Fired Innodata employees form WhatsApp support group as shares drop on Nasdaq

A WhatsApp group formed by terminated workers of artificial intelligence company Innodata has grown to 617 members as employees seek clarity on sudden job cuts. The group link was shared across Microsoft Teams after workers in India and the Philippines experienced system shutdowns and sudden account deactivations.

What Happened

Nearly 550 employees in India were affected by the layoffs, alongside job cuts in the Philippines. Workers reported logging into their accounts for a normal Monday before losing system access by lunchtime. Some discovered through the HR portal that their resignation date and last working day had been marked as October 26. Termination emails sent to personal accounts cited business requirements and a reduction in business assignments, noting the decision was unrelated to individual performance. Meanwhile, Innodata shares fell sharply on Nasdaq, closing down 25.32 percent at $44.74.

Context

Mass layoffs in the technology and artificial intelligence sector often occur when companies face sudden reductions in client contracts or business assignments. Workers losing digital access before retrieving official documents like payslips highlights the administrative challenges tied to sudden employment terminations in remote or digital-first work environments.