Thread regarding Qualcomm Inc. layoffs

Directors and above

The speculation is most director and above roles are going to be safe. How does this make sense if Qualcomm is trying to cut down in expenses ?

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| 2751 views | | 11 replies (last September 29, 2023) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1oKPUpoG

11 replies (most recent on top)

I work here but I know nothing.

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Post ID: @6uex+1oKPUpoG

There are bits of reality in several comments. Q is pushing the repetitive, maintenance, and low level work that can’t be automated to India, to be managed from San Diego. Cuts are primarily happening Directors and below, with some Sr. Directors who have not been hands on for a profitable project. Marketing is getting gutted because they are using an outside firm to create content. Customer Engineering is being gutted because they are no longer handling customer support, Product Management is.

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Post ID: @2wru+1oKPUpoG

Last time around, the focus was mainly on folks who were in the company for more than 25 years and also were over 55. It just happened that some of them were directors and above. But truth be told, not many high titles were impacted. This time around the story will be the same. The worker bees will get the short end of the stick. ESG, Product Marketing, Marketing, Program Management, Product Management - does not matter which project or BU, they are all safe. The exec management would rather cut 3 staff engineers to retain one Product Management director even if the said director is responsible for a product that is not profitable.

Realize this reality and plan accordingly. Someone did a nice "to-do" list to prepare. Even if you execute 50% of that list, you will be fine. Things will turn around eventually. It has to...this is America. It will get sunny...Until then enjoy the down time with the family - you don't need a boat load of money for that. Do not get the office politics get to you.

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Post ID: @1lws+1oKPUpoG

If they want to save money they'll get rid of directors who are less hands-on, and long time Staff and Senior Staff who are expensive but expendable. The most flexible workers who aren't highly paid are the most valuable. It's what happened last time around. After that they hired more people in China and India to do the same jobs but for one-quarter the cost.

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Post ID: @1thq+1oKPUpoG

Why are people here so dense? Are you completely oblivious that they pushed the a large number of Directors+ to voluntarily retire earlier this year? So the top has already been culled, now it's time for the bottom.

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Post ID: @1qbl+1oKPUpoG

The direction of QCOM is to manage from San Diego and work overseas. Hence non-SD US locations will be shut down except SF. Top management will stay here and they will hire engineers at low cost locations such as India, Mexico, etc. Hence being in a management role in SD maybe much safer than being at the lower level.

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Post ID: @aea+1oKPUpoG

This round is so massive, director and above are needed to come up the list and keep secrecy. Next round will all be high titles.

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Post ID: @jqp+1oKPUpoG

Management hierarchy is structured in a reverse pyramid fashion, with an excessive concentration of leadership roles at the top. There's an overabundance of senior directors, directors, and principal managers. Compensation packages are subpar. While the engineering team is meeting its milestones, there's a deficiency in strong leadership and visionary guidance. Cross-geographical meetings disrupt work-life balance and contribute to high stress levels without commensurate compensation.

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Post ID: @udf+1oKPUpoG

Directors and above have already made their case to exec management that they are needed and the lower titles are dispensable and disposable. This is how it goes - Exec management has assured board and wall st that turn around is 2Q or max 4Q away and then due to demand from new customers and new features, they will need to augment workforce heavily. Then it is the senior titles like director to vp who are needed to get the new hires to mentor them into the "Qualcomm Way".

How do you think certain groups like marketing, product management and ESG get to be so top heavy? These days even a director in program management has better job security than the worker ants. Especially look at ESG.

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Post ID: @pyt+1oKPUpoG

No, OP is right. Last layoff was meant for Principle and above tittles , this is sr staff and below.

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Post ID: @kmc+1oKPUpoG

Who did you hear that from?
Its the opposite of what has happened in the past.

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Post ID: @vop+1oKPUpoG

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