"Your Last Working Day": Oracle's 6 am Layoff Email That Ended Thousands of Jobs

Thousands of employees at Oracle Corporation woke up to an unexpected and unsettling message early Tuesday morning -an email informing them that their roles had been eliminated with immediate effect. According to multiple reports and employee accounts, the email was sent around 6 am, catching workers off guard and leaving little to no time for preparation. The layoffs are believed to be part of a large-scale global restructuring effort that could impact up to 30,000 employees worldwide, roughly 18% of Oracle's workforce. The cuts have affected staff across Oracle Health, Sales, Cloud, Customer Success, and NetSuite.

While the layoffs are global in scope, India appears to be among the hardest-hit regions. In India, an estimated 12,000 employees are said to have been affected. As of 6 am, thousands of professionals across various cities, including Bengaluru and Noida, found themselves unable to access their systems. 

Several impacted employees claimed the termination email came without any prior indication of job cuts. There was no prior intimation, no call from HR, no manager loop-in. The message made it clear that the decision was final and effective immediately, with Tuesday marking their last working day at the company.

What the Email Said

Copies of the email, reportedly reviewed by media outlets, reveal a standardised message sent to affected employees across regions. The communication framed the layoffs as part of broader organisational changes and business realignment.

Employees were told that eligibility for severance benefits would depend on completing formal termination documentation. The company indicated that further instructions, including payout details and timelines, would be shared individually.

Here's the full email:

"We are sharing some difficult news regarding your position. After careful consideration of Oracle's current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organisational change. As a result, today is your last working day. We are grateful for your dedication, hard work, and the impact you have made during your time with us.

After signing your termination paperwork, you will be eligible to receive a severance package subject to the terms and conditions of the severance plan. You will receive an email from DocuSign to your Oracle email address with details on your severance and termination date.

Immediate Action Required

To receive important follow-up information, including FAQs and separation documents to help you through this transition, you must provide a personal email address.

Please click here to submit a personal email address immediately. If you make a submission error, please re-submit a new form. Please Note: The personal email address will only be used for correspondence regarding separation-related information and severance agreements.

Access to your computer, email, voicemail, and files will be deactivated soon, and you will be unable to log into your computer. As a reminder, you are prohibited from downloading, copying or retaining (including emailing yourself) any Oracle confidential information.

Thank you for your contributions to our organization. If you have additional questions, please reach out to the HR team via the Ask HR page or at (888) 404-2494.

Oracle Leadership."