A sudden late-night Microsoft Teams meeting reportedly ended the jobs of nearly 150 engineers, leaving employees shocked as Hy-Vee's India engineering centre was shut down without prior notice.
A software engineer has claimed that approximately 150 members of Hy-Vee's engineering team were laid off in a sudden restructuring exercise conducted through a late-night Microsoft Teams call. According to the employee, the layoffs happened without any advance warning, and affected workers allegedly did not receive a severance package.
The incident came to light after the former employee shared their experience on Reddit in a post titled "Got laid off from Hy-Vee overnight after 1.8 years." The post quickly gained attention across social media, with many users expressing concern over the manner in which the layoffs were reportedly handled.
Employees Say 9 PM Teams Meeting Announced Entire Team Closure
According to the Reddit post, around 150 engineers were invited to a Microsoft Teams meeting scheduled at 9 PM, where management informed them that the entire engineering division was being shut down as part of an organisational restructuring.
The employee described the announcement as completely unexpected, stating that the decision came without any prior indication that the team was at risk.
Employee Claims No Severance Package Was Offered
The software engineer revealed that they initially joined Hy-Vee as an intern before securing a full-time position and spending nearly two years with the company.
Despite their tenure, the employee alleged that the layoffs were carried out without any severance benefits.
"One meeting, and it was over," the employee wrote while describing the emotional impact of the sudden job loss.
Hy-Vee India Engineering Director Seeks Opportunities for Affected Employees
Following reports of the layoffs, Amit Goel, Director of Engineering at Hy-Vee India, shared a LinkedIn post confirming that the company's India engineering centre had been shut down.
He appealed to his professional network to help the affected employees find new opportunities, describing them as highly skilled engineers recruited from leading technology companies, including Amazon and Myntra.
Goel stated that the team consisted of exceptional professionals who possessed both strong technical expertise and valuable problem-solving abilities, urging recruiters to consider hiring them.
Social Media Reacts to the Layoffs
The Reddit post sparked widespread discussion, with many users questioning the reported absence of severance benefits.
One user commented that while severance packages may vary by company policy, employees are generally entitled to notice period compensation under applicable employment agreements.
Another user expressed surprise, noting that Hy-Vee employs nearly 20,000 people globally and clarified that reports indicated only the India engineering centre had been shut down rather than the company itself.
Several others offered words of encouragement, urging the affected professionals to stay positive and pursue new opportunities, while many hoped the engineers would secure new roles quickly.
Growing Concern Over Sudden Tech Layoffs
The reported layoffs highlight the continued uncertainty across the technology sector, where restructuring initiatives have led to unexpected job losses in recent years. As companies continue to optimise operations and reduce costs, professionals remain increasingly concerned about job security and transparency during workforce reductions.