Viral X post claims Zoho fired 300 freshers, company provides clarification

A viral post on X claimed Zoho fired 300 freshers, triggering concern among job seekers. The company has denied the claims, saying the confusion comes from its internship programme, not full-time hiring.

In Short

• A viral X post alleged 300 freshers were fired at Zoho
• It suggested that several candidates had declined offers from TCS and other firms
• Zoho says no employees were fired; claims post misrepresented internship programme

A post that quickly went viral on X has put Zoho under the spotlight, after alleging that the company removed nearly 300 freshers without warning. The claim triggered anxiety among people, with many questioning how entry-level hiring is being handled in India’s tech sector. The post, which was widely reshared, claimed to be written by an affected trainee. It suggested that several candidates had declined offers from TCS, Cognizant, and Capgemini in favour of Zoho, only to later find themselves without a role. The tone of the message struck an emotional chord, particularly among those entering the workforce for the first time.

“At those companies, I might have at least had some stability, even if it meant being on the bench for a while,” the anonymous intern said. “This situation has hit me hard. I come from a financially struggling background, and this job wasn’t just a career step. It was something my family was depending on.”

The post also called out Zoho’s leadership, including co-founder Sridhar Vembu, raising concerns over whether the company’s actions aligned with its public messaging around supporting talent from smaller towns.
Soon after the claims began circulating, Zoho responded with a clarification, stating that no employees had been laid off. According to the company, the situation described in the viral post stems from a misunderstanding of how its internship programme works.

Mohammed Sohail, who handles talent acquisition and HR operations at Zoho, said that the viral message incorrectly treated internships as full-time employment. “The post in question appears to conflate our internship programme with employment. These are distinct: internships are learning engagements that do not automatically guarantee a full-time role.” He added that a section of the 2026 intern batch has already been offered permanent roles, while others are still being assessed. At the same time, the company continues to bring in freshers through separate full-time hiring processes.

“Describing interns who were not offered a position as ‘laid off’ is factually incorrect,” Sohail said. He explained that only those who meet the company’s expectations are absorbed, while the rest complete their internship cycle and move on to other opportunities.

- Ends