‘Blessing Or Trap?’: Company Doubles Employee’s Salary Amid Mass Layoffs; His ₹50 LPA Package Comes With One Condition
NewsviralCompany Doubles Techie's Salary To ₹50 LPA Amid Mass Layoffs, On One Condition: ‘Do Not Tell. . . ’Last Updated:August 09, 2026, 07:02 ISTAn employee's salary doubled to ₹50 LPA after building an AI. . .
NewsviralCompany Doubles Techie's Salary To ₹50 LPA Amid Mass Layoffs, On One Condition: ‘Do Not Tell. . . ’Last Updated:August 09, 2026, 07:02 ISTAn employee's salary doubled to ₹50 LPA after building an AI chatbot, but mass layoffs left him worried about job security and future employability. Getting a 100% salary hike would usually be a dream come true. But for one employee, a jump from ₹25 LPA to ₹50 LPA came amid mass layoffs, turning a career win into a source of anxiety (Image-AI)A massive salary hike has sparked an unexpected dilemma for one employee in a now-viral post. After his company laid off around a third of its workforce, he was promoted and given a 100% hike, taking his package to ₹50 LPA. In a post shared on X, user @poojaofficial5 narrated the experience of an employee whose annual compensation reportedly jumped from ₹25 lakh to ₹50 lakh. While such a massive hike would ordinarily be seen as a reason to celebrate, the employee was reportedly left more anxious than excited, particularly because it came at a time when the company had already laid off a significant number of employees. Recommended StoriesBeard Trimmers and Grooming Kit Deals With Up To 60% Discount: 8 Picks Worth Checking OutTechie Working 2 Remote Jobs Gets 'Exciting News' From CEO, Discovers His Companies Are Merging: ‘I’m Cooked’'Ye Sab Lunch Time Mein Kiya Karo': Gen Z Employee Appears With Face Pack On Office Call, Viral Clip Divides The InternetHyderabad Manager Borrows ₹4 Lakh From Team, Goes On ‘Emergency Leave’; HR Calls It A ‘Personal Matter’According to the viral post, the company typically conducted its appraisal cycle in June. However, this time, employees reportedly saw a very different development. Instead of the usual appraisal process, the company suddenly laid off around 50 of its 150 employees. The employees who retained their jobs were reportedly relieved simply to have survived the layoffs. The post said that many were no longer expecting an appraisal and were instead thinking, “Forget the appraisal, at least we still have our jobs. "However, the situation changed unexpectedly when the employee received an email announcing a promotion along with a 100% salary hike. His annual package reportedly increased from ₹25 LPA to ₹50 LPA. The reason behind the unusually large hike was reportedly a small AI chatbot that he built over a weekend. According to the post, the chatbot ended up creating significant value for the company. His manager reportedly told him that he had received one of the biggest hikes in the organisation, while several other employees did not receive any hike at all. There was, however, one condition attached to the hike: “Do not tell anyone about your salary. "The employee and his parents were reportedly thrilled by the development. Yet, instead of simply celebrating the salary jump, he began worrying about what could happen if the company went through another round of layoffs. The post questioned whether the ₹50 LPA package could ultimately turn out to be a “blessing or a trap". Since the company had already undergone major layoffs, the employee reportedly wondered whether management knew something that employees were not being told. Another concern was his ability to find another job if he were to lose his current position. Despite being comfortable with system design and other areas, the employee reportedly “absolutely hates DSA", raising questions about whether companies would consider him for roles at a similar salary level without strong data structures and algorithms skills. Interestingly, the employee reportedly does not want to leave his current organisation. His manager is described as “amazing", while the employee also enjoys a good work-life balance and genuinely likes his job. The bigger question, therefore, is not whether he should leave, but whether he would be prepared if circumstances forced him to do so. The post ended with the employee’s concern: “If I lose this job tomorrow, am I actually ready for the next one ?"The story struck a chord with several users, who shared their thoughts on the unusual situation. “This hit hard. Big hike after layoffs feels equal parts blessing and quiet panic Happy for him but that am I ready at 50 LPA? fear is so real," said one user. “The journey from ₹25 LPA to ₹50 LPA has been amazing, but the real test has started now. It is more important than salary that a person prepares himself for the next opportunity. 💯" said another. The company doubled a guy’s salary to ₹50 LPAbut instead of just happiness, the hike brought a whole new fear. Every year, appraisals happened in june. This time, instead of appraisals,the company suddenly laid off around 50 out of 150 employees. Those of them who…— Pooja (@poojaofficial5)August 8, 2026“A ₹50 LPA hike is a blessing, but in today’s market, staying employable matters more than the package keep learning, stay prepared, and enjoy the opportunity," said a third. “That hike is both a blessing and a wake-up call," said a fourth. “A massive salary hike like this is a blessing, so enjoy the success and stop overthinking a worst-case scenario," said another. “I fearn 50Lpa I don’t worry about layoff, I save altelast 70% salary and start invest in good stock after layup that stock will help you to live," said one more user. News18 NewsletterHandpicked stories, in your inboxA newsletter with the best of our journalismLocation :First Published:August 09, 2026, 07:01 ISTDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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