Many falsely claimed that the layoffs are connected to the hiring of H-1B visa workers, and unfairly targeted Walmart's Indian-origin Chief Technology Officer, Suresh Kumar.
These claims have no factual basis and ignore the broader scope of the layoffs.
Suresh Kumar, Walmart's Executive Vice President, Global CTO, and Chief Development Officer, is a highly accomplished professional with over three decades of experience at top tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Originally from Basavanagudi in Bengaluru, Kumar holds a B.Tech from IIT Madras and a PhD from Princeton University. He currently lives in Sunnyvale, California.
Mass Suicide: 7 Dead After Bageshwar Dham Visit
Contrary to the online conspiracy theories, the job cuts at Walmart span multiple divisions, including the U.S. e-commerce sector, Walmart Connect (its advertising arm), and various other departments.
These are not areas that heavily depend on H-1B employees. The layoffs are part of a company-wide restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiency and streamlining decision-making.
Violent Delivery Boy: Minor Issue, Brutal Attack
Despite this, several social media users blamed the layoffs on H-1B visa hiring, questioning how many foreign workers Walmart would employ next year.
These posts were misleading and ignored the fact that Walmart's H-1B use is consistent with its size, employing over 1.6 million people in the U.S.
An internal memo from Suresh Kumar and Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner confirmed that the layoffs were driven by long-term strategic planning, not foreign worker replacement.