Rumor: Satyam plans to layoff 14,000; an email rattles Satyamites to no end

An unsigned e-mail doing the rounds since Friday is causing much apprehension among Satyamites. As per the mail circulated among the company's associates, the IT firm would soon be handing out pink slips to about 13,500 employees from across 50-60 domains in two phases over the next one month.

Though the authenticity of the mail could not be established by the staffers, it has become a matter of concern, especially for those on the bench. This is primarily because the mail includes information that is usually available only to senior HR and management officials. "The mail is rather elaborate and has data that only very senior employees have access to," said an associate. He added that such details regarding the number of domains and the headcount of employees working in each domain is available only on the 'Shine' database that can be accessed by just one group of very senior employees.

As per the mail some of the domains that would see maximum slashing of numbers are Microsoft that is expected to lose 900 associates, Java that would also lose close to 900 employees and Mainframe from where the company plans to fire 800 people. However, on receiving this mail when associates who are part on these domains approached senior managers and the HR department they were assured that the company was planning no such large-scale firing and that the content of the mails were absolutely bogus.

"The situation in the company is such that we really do not know who to believe and who not to believe. While we are trying hard to remain calm following assurances from our seniors we cannot ignore such mails," said another associate who has been serving the company for close to five years adding that "my friends and I have become more aggressive about our job hunt after reading this mail."

The air of distress and disturbance created by the mail has, however, not been able to affect some associates at all. Knowing well that it is rather difficult for them to land a job now keeping in mind the poor market condition, they are prepared to wait and watch. "Anyway we are sure that no management can send such a mail. So what is the point in panicking? Unless there is an official statement regarding this I don't think we should be bothered," said the employee.

Agreeing with possibility of the mail being bogus, one senior official of the company explained that with hundreds of people now leaving Satyam, there was no need for the company to fire people. "The firm still has enough work on its hands. And keeping in mind the number of people resigning from Satyam everyday, I don't see why the company would want to fire so many people. It doesn't make sense," he said.