Amid layoff season, this Bengaluru company is paying employees to quit and start their own business and return if things don't work out

At a time when employees across the technology industry are facing layoffs, restructuring and voluntary exit offers, one Bengaluru-based company is taking a very different approach. It is encouraging employees to quit their jobs, start their own businesses, pursue entrepreneurial ambitions and return if things don't turn out well. The company is iD Fresh Food India, and its global CEO Musthafa PC has introduced an entrepreneurship policy that offers financial support, mentorship and access to the company's business network to employees who want to become entrepreneurs.


There is another unusual feature. Employees who take the risk of starting a business will have the option of returning to the company if their ventures do not work out. The initiative stands out at a time when some of the world's biggest technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Meta, Canva and Qualcomm, are reshaping their workforces. While several companies are offering voluntary buyouts, others have announced significant job cuts.

What is iD Fresh Food offering employees?

Musthafa announced the initiative in a LinkedIn post, explaining that he wants employees to have the freedom to pursue their business ideas without worrying about losing their financial security completely. Under the new entrepreneurship policy, employees interested in starting their own ventures will receive three forms of support.

First, they will get access to the entire iD ecosystem, including the company's partner network. Second, the leadership team will provide mentorship and guidance. Third, the company will offer a partially paid sabbatical to help employees manage the uncertain initial period of their entrepreneurial journey.

The return option is perhaps the most interesting part of the policy. Employees will not necessarily have to treat their departure as a permanent break with the company. If their business plans fail or they decide entrepreneurship is not for them, they can approach Musthafa about returning. The idea is to make starting a business less intimidating, particularly for employees who have ideas but hesitate because of the financial risks involved.

From a Rs 50,000 kitchen to building iD Fresh Food

Musthafa said the policy reflects his own journey as an entrepreneur. Recalling the company's early days, he said iD Fresh Food started in a small Bengaluru kitchen with an initial investment of Rs 50,000. The journey involved mistakes, sleepless nights and several uncertain moments. The founders continued because a few people believed in their idea, even when they were not entirely confident about its success.

Musthafa said he has not forgotten what that support meant during difficult times. Now, he wants to extend similar encouragement to employees who want to create something of their own. He also acknowledged that letting some of the company's talented employees leave would be emotionally difficult. However, he said seeing them build successful businesses and create a larger impact would make him proud. His message is that an employee's ambition to become an entrepreneur should not automatically be seen as a threat to the organisation.

Microsoft offers buyouts to 60,000 employees

The Bengaluru company's approach comes at a time when workforce restructuring has become a major talking point across the global technology industry. Microsoft recently announced a voluntary exit offer that could cover around 60,000 employees, nearly 27% of its global workforce. Eligible employees across the US, Canada, India and the UK can consider the offer, although certain divisions and roles are excluded.

The programme is part of Microsoft's efforts to reshape its workforce and manage costs as it invests heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure and services. The company has also undertaken multiple rounds of job cuts during 2026, making the latest buyout programme another significant development for its employees.

Google expands voluntary exit offers across five countries

Google, too, has expanded its voluntary buyout programmes. As per reports, the company extended voluntary exit offers to employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland in June 2026. The move followed similar programmes introduced in certain divisions in the US and the UK. Google said the programme was intended to support its future priorities. The company is also shifting resources towards artificial intelligence and cloud computing, even as it continues to hire in areas considered strategically important.

Canva cuts 1,271 jobs as company restructures

The situation has been different at Canva. The Australian design platform announced a major restructuring in November, with around 1,271 employees, or 22% of its workforce, affected by job cuts, role changes and relocations. CEO Melanie Perkins said the company needed to simplify its organisational structure and bring different teams together. The restructuring also involves reducing specialised roles and creating a flatter organisation.

Meta offers voluntary exit packages in France

Meta has also joined the list of technology companies exploring voluntary workforce reductions. According to reports, the company has offered voluntary exit options to employees in France, where it has around 300 workers. The programme could affect approximately 100 employees. The reported package includes severance equivalent to 2.15 months of salary for every year of service. Employees would also receive 10 months of mobility leave, with 80% of their gross salary during that period.

Qualcomm layoffs

US semiconductor company Qualcomm has reportedly begun layoffs in India, starting with its Bengaluru operations on November 9. Reports suggest that around 1,000 jobs could be affected across the country, including at its facilities in Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR and Chennai. The reported cuts follow an internal communication from CEO Cristiano Amon in October, in which he informed employees about a performance-focused global workforce reduction. Qualcomm has not officially confirmed the reported number of Indian employees affected. Reports have also highlighted severance payments for employees asked to leave.

Why iD Fresh Food's approach is different

The contrast between these developments is striking. For large technology companies, workforce restructuring is increasingly linked to changing business priorities, AI investments, automation and efforts to simplify organisational structures. Some are offering employees financial packages to leave voluntarily, while others are eliminating positions.

iD Fresh Food's policy takes a different route. It is encouraging employee's to start a business. A partially paid sabbatical, access to an established business network and the possibility of returning to a job could make that decision easier.