Employees In 40s At High Risk During Layoffs, Says Bombay Shaving Company CEO

The wave of corporate layoffs sweeping across industries has exposed a growing vulnerability among employees in their 40s, who are increasingly becoming prime targets. Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, highlighted that professionals in this age group often face the axe first during large-scale job cuts.“When a mass layoff is about to happen, those in their 40s are the most vulnerable because they’re the highest paid,” Deshpande explained in a recent Instagram post. The rationale behind this, he noted, lies in the high salaries that employees in their 40s typically command—making them costlier for companies to retain when financial pressures mount, reported IANS.Same Pattern Being Observed Across The WorldAccording to Deshpande, this isn’t an issue isolated to India. Companies around the world are grappling with economic uncertainty, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has only accelerated the shift. “Companies are now focusing more on reducing costs and streamlining operations, which has led to multiple rounds of layoffs,” he said, highlighting a global trend that’s reshaping corporate strategies.The consequences of losing a job in one’s 40s go beyond the paycheck. Deshpande emphasised the emotional and financial toll it can take on individuals already juggling significant life responsibilities. “People in their 40s often have to manage several responsibilities at once. Their children may be in college, which requires significant financial support, and their parents might be in their 70s or 80s, needing medical care and attention,” he pointed out.Additionally, recurring obligations such as home loan EMIs can quickly compound the pressure. “Losing your job in your 40s is a financial and emotional disaster. At this age, you have the most responsibilities -- EMIs, kids education, aging parents,” Deshpande stressed.This phase is also typically seen as a time when professionals expect to enter upper management and experience peak earnings. “This is the time when people expect to reach upper management and enter their golden salary years. So, losing a job in your 40s can be a massive destabiliser, both financially and emotionally,” he said.Also Read : Goldman Sachs Estimates Oil Prices To Continue Falling In 2026 As US-China Trade War Escalates

The wave of corporate layoffs sweeping across industries has exposed a growing vulnerability among employees in their 40s, who are increasingly becoming prime targets. Shantanu Deshpande, CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, highlighted that professionals in this age group often face the axe first during large-scale job cuts. “When a mass layoff is about to happen, those in their 40s are the most vulnerable because they’re the highest paid,” Deshpande explained in a recent Instagram post.

The rationale behind this, he noted, lies in the high salaries that employees in their 40s typically command—making them costlier for companies to retain when financial pressures mount, reported IANS. Same Pattern Being Observed Across The World According to Deshpande, this isn’t an issue isolated to India. Companies around the world are grappling with economic uncertainty, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has only accelerated the shift.

“Companies are now focusing more on reducing costs and streamlining operations, which has led to multiple rounds of layoffs,” he said, highlighting a global trend that’s reshaping corporate strategies. The consequences of losing a job in one’s 40s go beyond the paycheck. Deshpande emphasised the emotional and financial toll it can take on individuals already juggling significant life responsibilities.

“People in their 40s often have to manage several responsibilities at once. Their children may be in college, which requires significant financial support, and their parents might be in their 70s or 80s, needing medical care and attention,” he pointed out. Additionally, recurring obligations such as home loan EMIs can quickly compound the pressure.

“Losing your job in your 40s is a financial and emotional disaster. At this age, you have the most responsibilities -- EMIs, kids education, aging parents,” Deshpande stressed. This phase is also typically seen as a time when professionals expect to enter upper management and experience peak earnings.

“This is the time when people expect to reach upper management and enter their golden salary years. So, losing a job in your 40s can be a massive destabiliser, both financially and emotionally,” he said. Also Read : Goldman Sachs Estimates Oil Prices To Continue Falling In 2026 As US-China Trade War Escalates.