'Layoff not solution, instead train and retain': Netizens react as post on TCS layoffs sparks debate

While many agreed with Chakravarty's point that read, "AI is real; mass layoffs need not be," a few netizens opined otherwise. "Layoff is not the solution. Train, reskill, retain," one user commented.

Congress politician Praveen Chakravarty uploaded an X post commenting on the TCS layoffs, and the pay contrast between the CEO and the employees of the IT company.

In the now-viral post, Chakravarty wrote, "If top 100 took small paycuts, it can save 12,000 jobs," comparing the TCS CEO's pay of Rs 35 crore to an average employee's pay of Rs 15 lakh.

"Their lives wont be terrible at ₹2.5cr pay vs ₹3cr. For 12000 families, lives will be miserable at 0 pay vs ₹15 lacs (sic)," the message read further.

Check the X post below

He shared the remark on TCS layoffs on June 28. Soon, the post charged up the ongoing debate related to pay disparity.

Multiple users started to take sides in the discussion while dropping their comments.

While many agreed with Chakravarty's point that read, "AI is real; mass layoffs need not be," a few netizens opined otherwise.

"Layoff is not the solution. Train, reskill, retain. Like Ratan Tata believed — people are not just numbers. Those who build your company should not be discarded in hard times," one user replied.

"Companies grow by taking every measure to keep themselves relevant. If those 12k are good, they will get new jobs easily else there is no place for mediocrity. Bitter but thats how people, companies and countries grow (sic)," commented another.

Some predicted that the layoff numbers will be larger than announced, as TCS gears up to retrain staff for their expansion into AI.

"I suspect the numbers will end up being much bigger and mo escaping lay offs with AI having arrived. The point of senior management pay is well made but doesn't quite work that way and companies will refuse to have unfilled staff for future (sic)," read a comment.

As per the company's Integrated Annual Report of the year 2024-25, the CEO and MD of the company, K Krithivasan, is paid approximately 27 crores per annum. And, N G Subramanian, the COO and EO is compensated approximately 12 crore PA.

In comparison to Rs 15 lakhs that Chakravarty mentioned in his post, the pay disparity is stark.

A screenshot from the TCS Integrated Annual Report (2024-25)

In the past week, Tata Consultancy Services made headlines for their announcement on reducing their workforce by 2 per cent for the financial year 2026. The company revealed over 12,200 jobs are to be cut as it widens their markets into artificial intelligence and more.

With inputs from Reuters