Business
After 11 Years At Amazon, A Midnight Email Announced Indian Techie’s Layoff: ‘Suddenly Everything Was Gone’
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After 11 years at Amazon, the Indian-origin techie who lost his job shared that his teenage daughter helped him stay positive.
He is now learning AI and working on a side project. (representative image)
Losing a job after more than a decade at the same company is never easy. For this man, it came as a sudden shock. The Indian-origin tech professional, Hemant Virmani, who lives in Washington, had worked at Amazon for over 11 years before he was laid off in October 2025.
In an essay published by Business Insider, the 47-year-old opened up about how he dealt with the setback. He also shared how his teenage daughter’s resilience during her own difficult time changed the way he viewed his situation.
Layoff Email Changed Everything Overnight
Virmani said he found out about the layoff through a middle-of-the-night email. “Amazon was part of my daily life for 11.5 years, and suddenly it was gone,” he told Business Insider. He had been working as a senior software development manager.
He admitted there is “no right way or easy way” to conduct layoffs. While he had seen others lose their jobs in 2023, facing it himself felt very different. The next morning, he had a 30-minute meeting with his manager, who shared the news in what he called a “positive, human way.” A former manager also met him at a coffee shop to check on him.
Daughter’s Strength Gave Him A New Outlook
In the first few days, Virmani said he struggled to accept what had happened. But he began thinking about how his daughter had handled a difficult time in her own life the year before.
“She had an adverse situation happen to her last year that required recovery. How she reacted in that difficult time inspired me. Her mental model was: ‘Challenges don’t have to keep me from showing up for myself or for others.’ Her positive attitude was an inspiration for me to do the same,” Virmani recalled.
“I kind of learned from her that I had to take this layoff with positivity, keep my cool, and focus on what was next,” he added.
Soon after, he faced another personal loss when his father passed away. He travelled to India and spent about a month with family, thinking about his life and career.
Focusing On What Comes Next
Virmani now calls the break a “refreshing change.” He said he is less worried about the brand name of his next company and more focused on meaningful work. He has started learning more about artificial intelligence and is working on a hobby AI project.
He is applying for head-of-engineering roles and networking actively. He is also taking care of his health, going to the gym several times a week.
“My advice to anyone undergoing layoffs is to realise that layoffs are not about you. It’s about an environment that is driving layoffs. Secondly, now that this has happened, you can’t go back in the past and change it. Look forward to what you can do next. How you react is very important,” he said.
Delhi, India, India
February 17, 2026, 08:46 IST
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Business
Crude oil soars as Middle east conflict chokes supply routes, Hormuz concerns stokes panic – SUCH TV
Crude oil prices climbed on Monday on continuing fears of supply losses because of shipping disruptions in the key Middle East producing region from the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Brent crude futures rose $1.71, or 1.6%, to $110.74 a barrel by 0057 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained $0.71, or 0.6%, to trade at $112.25 per barrel.
On Thursday, the last trading day before the Good Friday holiday break, WTI settled up more than 11%, and Brent soared nearly 8% in volatile trading, recording their biggest absolute price increase since 2020, as US President Donald Trump promised to continue attacks on Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz, which carries oil and petroleum products from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, remains largely closed by Iranian attacks on shipping after the war began on February 28.
Because of the Middle East supply disruptions, refiners are seeking alternative sources for crude, particularly for physical cargoes in the US and the UK North Sea.
“Global buyers are bidding aggressively for (US) Gulf Coast barrels, and Brent is rallying even faster,” the Schork Group said in a client note on Monday.
On Sunday, Trump ratcheted up pressure on Tehran, threatening in an expletive-laden Easter Sunday social media post to target Iran’s power plants and bridges on Tuesday if the strategic Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
Still, some vessels, including an Omani-operated tanker, a French-owned container ship and a Japanese-owned gas carrier, crossed the Strait of Hormuz since Thursday, shipping data showed, reflecting Iran’s policy to allow passage for vessels from countries it deems friendly.
The war threatens to linger on as Iran has officially told mediators it is not prepared to meet with US officials in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, in the coming days, and efforts to produce a ceasefire have reached a dead end, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
On Sunday, OPEC+, consisting of some members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, agreed to a modest rise of 206,000 barrels per day for May.
However, that decision will largely exist on paper as several of the group’s key producers are unable to raise output due to the war.
Russian supply has been disrupted recently by Ukrainian drone attacks on its Baltic Sea export terminal. Media reports on Sunday said its Ust-Luga terminal resumed loadings on Saturday after days of disruptions.
Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”.
Brazil, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and the US have stopped importing Spanish pork. Other countries, such as EU members, China and the UK, have taken a more localised approach, only banning pork that originates in the affected area of north-eastern Spain.
US’ Nike’s Q3 earnings dip as DTC weakness offsets wholesale strength
Pakistan, other mediators ‘make last-ditch’ efforts for Iran-US ceasefire: report
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