Yahoo India axes some workers, hiring to go on
Yahoo’s Indian unit lays off its employees as part of performance-based exits and a global restructuring, reports N Madhavan.
Yahoo’s Indian unit has laid off fewer than 40 of its 1,400 employees as part of performance-based exits and a global restructuring in the troubled Internet media giant, but this is not to be confused with layoffs for cost-cutting, the head of its Bangalore-based R&D operations said on Thursday.
Ripples of concern ran through technology centres in the country after a swift cashiering of the employees between the 200-strong Yahoo India Web Services and the 1,200-strong R&D team in India, raising questions on job growth in the boom sector.
However, Sharad Sharma, Yahoo’s R&D chief in India, said the centre was on track to raising its headcount to 2,000 this year, hiring about 60-80 people a month. “The annual appraisal cycle has just concluded and those with poor performance have gone, but the way we have done it this time is different,” he said of the decision.
Sharma said some of those asked to go were part of the 1,000 jobs being abolished worldwide as part of Yahoo’s efforts to focus on three key areas, which include being a preferred starting point for surfers, a platform for advertisers and an open network for software application developers.
Sharma said the job cuts in Yahoo India should not be confused with other industry events because its R&D was part of a global product development effort that required high standards of performance. Neither should it be linked with Microsoft’s attempts to take over Yahoo, he said.
Stay informed on Business News, TCS Q4 Results Live along with Gold Rates Today, India News and other related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs