Sberbank has begun mass layoffs of IT specialists across its various subsidiaries, with up to 50% of employees potentially affected. According to reports from Vedomosti and CNews, the company is streamlining its workforce as part of broader cost-cutting measures.
The layoffs primarily impact Ecom.tech, Sberbank's IT division, which oversees significant platforms including 'Kupar', 'Megamarket', and 'Samokat'. Initial reports on January 15, 2025, conveyed the situation's gravity, detailing how the service providers have started to let go of staff to align with fresh austerity measures.
One senior employee from 'Kupar' disclosed, "The layoffs will cut 20% of the eight thousand IT specialists at Ecom.tech," emphasizing the scale of upcoming terminations. The aforementioned optimizations are said to range from 30% to 50%, varying by the department and service line. A representative from CNews noted, "It is explained as budget savings and orders from above," which highlights the situation's imposed urgency.
According to the sources, the layoff announcement and the approach to employee termination have triggered severe distress within the departments involved. Some managers were instructed to compile separation lists, stating, "They said: make two lists: first wave 45%, second wave another 9%. Many managers complied," one employee shared, reflecting on internal processes. The atmosphere of insecurity is palpable as long-serving staff members become increasingly anxious about their future at the company.
Underlying this turbulence is the motivation of Sberbank's upper management, primarily focused on enhancing profit margins and rationalizing operations amid challenging economic conditions facing the tech sector. Maria Rukavishnikova, founder and CEO of Getmobit, when speaking to Vedomosti, commented, "The cost-cutting measures come as part of Sberbank's shifting focus and due to economic pressures affecting the entire industry," shedding light on the rationale behind the layoffs.
Reports indicate more than 200 employees from 'Kupar' alone have already been dismissed, which indicates the onset of this wave of layoffs. Upon receiving termination letters, employees typically have the option to accept severance deals based on their tenure and position. Details surrounding these agreements suggest several are being offered to exit on more palatable terms, yet, this doesn't provide much relief for those caught up amid the corporate reshuffling.
With the atmosphere so charged with tension, the repercussions of these layoffs could significantly impact both the company and the broader tech employment ecosystem, leading to increased competition for jobs as layoffs across firms exacerbate the situation. Employees from the 'IT Workers Union' have started voicing concerns, prescribing the economic environment's toxic nature as the primary reason driving these collective layoffs.
Reflecting industry sentiment, sources from across the affected companies have expressed trepidation and regret at the way Sberbank has chosen to handle its internal operations. Many standing by have begun questioning whether the path of construction via layoffs will yield the intended results, or if it will lead to increased disarray and loss of talent.
While representatives from Sberbank have left inquiries about their layoffs without comment, this decision directly resonates with broader shifts across Russia's technology employment sector as companies respond to the shifting economic and operational realities sparked by client losses and cost evaluations. The fate of the laid-off employees now hangs precariously as the tech job market adapts to this upheaval.