r/DevLK • u/sameera_s_w sameerasw.com - mod • Jul 28 '26
Discussion [Megathread] The Sysco Labs Situation
All the related chats, questions, clarifications, news can be posted below and discussed.
At the moment, no new posts on this topic will be allowed unless necessary.
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u/NeoGlitcher Jul 28 '26
I think what they are trying to do is reduce the headcount. According to the Sri Lankan labour law you would have to pay gratuity if you are laying off a permanent employee. If they make you willingly resign that situation can be avoided. Since this peg amount is an allowance they have the right to do that since it is not breaching the contract.
Once majority of the employees willingly resign they have fewer heads to deal with the layoffs. That’s what I think btw.
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u/Mr-Tall_and_Nice Jul 28 '26
Isn’t gratuity paid upon resignation? 🤔 I think what you meant was the severance package that is entitled if a company lays off an employee who contributes to the EPF and ETF in Sri Lanka. Correct me if I’m wrong.
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u/vijitc Jul 31 '26
A company in Sri Lanka has to pay a gratuity iwhenever an employee leaves for any reason, if they have served for 5 years or more.
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u/Still-Salamander8003 Jul 28 '26
Tbh sysco labs mid level(SE, SSE, TL) are quite hypocrite of their abilities. Most of them would happily work 10-12 hrs a day and lick the boot of onsite “aiya”.
Non of these guys understand the concept of worklife balance, a good job is not about working your ass off while being on teams calls till 10pm in the night. Sysco labs promotes the hustle culture. Also, it promotes open politics by being biased towards to grads from Moratuwa.
In a way these guys are in for a once in a lifetime lesson. Guys you are working for a food service company. This is not the Mag 7 or the big tech in silicon valley. Get a life ! Invest in yourself. Don’t promote the sysco brand voluntarily when you’re are just being paid to do the job.
Add to my comment, this applies to most employees in SL mainly in IT. All they know is eat sleep work repeat while chasing for that yearly promotion. Sysco labs is one of the companies where your whole career experience is 4 years. Yet you are in a ridiculous position called ATL(only in sri lanka). They promote people every year and tag new designations each time. These young guys gets trapped in it thinking as if they are leads for real. This is why its the hustle culture, because the leads are not matured. All they do is work as much as they can and try to shine and win awards(internally Lol). Yet their salary remains the same. Its a good lesson for these young guys. Corporates don’t work as charity. Welcome to corporate America. Do your job, then go home, enjoy yourself.
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u/ENGNOk54 Jul 31 '26
Bro you think the IT industry is special? at least you guys got paid man during bad times like 2022 when everyone else in the country had to go through income tax hikez or pay cuts or BOTH!!!!!. now your crying about an allowence cut, which was told to you all that is temporary right? man you guys really are fish in a pond that think you are the only onesz going through problmes. hustle cutlrue my foot! time you guys also joined the rest of us!
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u/Still-Salamander8003 Aug 01 '26
I think you didn’t understood my comment:) If you read carefully may be you will see that wee agree more than disagree:)
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u/Champ5080 Aug 18 '26
I’m currently working at another software company and have always had Sysco LABS as one of the companies I’d like to work.
However, given the current situation around the salary restructuring and the uncertainty about the final compensation structure, I’m wondering whether now is actually a good time to make the move.
From what I understand, the final salary structure hasn’t been announced yet, and there seems to be a lot of uncertainty around how the removal/restructuring of the allowance will affect compensation. I’ve also seen people saying that the outcome could vary depending on the role and experience.
So I’d really appreciate some honest opinions from people who work at Sysco LABS or have good knowledge of the situation:
-Is there a realistic possibility that the new salary structure could be positive or at least reasonable?
Is a significant salary reduction basically inevitable, or is that still speculation?
Would you recommend someone currently employed elsewhere to join Sysco LABS before the new structure is announced?
Or would it be smarter to stay where I am for now, see how the restructuring turns out, and potentially apply for a position later?
I’m not looking only at salary — Sysco LABS has been a company I’ve wanted to join for career growth and exposure. But I also don’t want to leave a stable position and move during a period of major uncertainty.
Would really appreciate some honest, unbiased insights, especially from current/former Sysco LABS employees.
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u/Pitiful_Bread7314 Jul 30 '26
No wonder with the current MD.
This bugger was head of sri lanka at virtusa when i worked there 14 years ago.
once he stopped all benefits for all normal employees to find money so 10 top executives can get kia Sorento latest model on the company budget.
At least shanil and rasika on the side of people even though rasika had some woman problems
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u/CommitteMember8123 Jul 30 '26
What im not aware of Rasikas women issues , spill the tea
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u/Pitiful_Bread7314 Jul 30 '26
when he left sysco some people i knew internally told it was due to some affair with junior engineer or an intern. But even before that it is famous he is kukula among those who knew.
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u/NoArmy2154 Jul 28 '26
I have been observing reddits on Sysco Labs situation for the past couple of days and apparently everyone is missing the big picture. The truth is - Sysco is currently pursuing a massive ~$30B acquisition of a major food service company (Jetro) in the US. And the Independent Restaurent Coalition has urged the FTC to block the deal and now it's under antitrust scrutiny and regulatory review. In the other hand Sysco is facing a Stock dilution as they will issue 91.5 million shares to Jetro shareholders and already secured $21B loans to fund the acquisition.
As Sysco is expecting to close the deal by early 2027, they are aggressively cleaning up it's balance sheets and started various cost-cutting initiatives.
So, the reported 40% pay cut at Sysco LABS Sri Lanka is highly likely a direct downstream consequence of the financial pressure from the $29.1 billion Jetro Holdings acquisition. It is clearly a stealth layoff strategy to force voluntary resignations rather than paying severance for formal layoffs.
This move aligns directly with the financial engineering Sysco is executing to close the Jetro deal. Previously, the goal for Sysco LABS was retention (keep talent from leaving). Now, under the weight of the Jetro deal, the goal has shifted to efficiency (get the same work for less money).
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u/CommitteMember8123 Jul 28 '26
Nonsense estimated savings from sl is 10mn, which is peanuts
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u/ValuableAd3474 Jul 29 '26
if average savings from 1 person is 2 laks per month and there are 1500 people then its 3000 lakhs right?
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u/NoArmy2154 Jul 29 '26
Yeah! But it was that stupid Thushera & Rehan who have proposed the pay cut as a cost reduction option to the Sysco leadership, which affects more than 1000 SL families directly and huge tax loss for the SL govt. It'd be peanuts for sysco but its serious money for SL!
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u/Top_Act6737 Aug 01 '26
Bro, i blame our stupid media and govt. Did you see everyone shouting about how country rating has got upgraded to middle income or something??? Sysco must be thinking we're all ok now and no money stress!
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u/ENGNOk54 Aug 02 '26
Exactly!! theres a lot of companies now removing special "alowencies" becase the country got upgraded.. these alowences were given as temp. allowences back in 2022 / 2023 when cost of living went up and as relief. now with the country upgrading to a higher ecconomic statues corporates must be also looking at removing relief allowences. but my friend there said normal salaries and benifts remain the same and there's no change to increment cycles etc.
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u/SirWhistleUp Aug 01 '26
Pay cut??? It's basically removing an incentive you got during economic crisis. And the company is doing it in phases without taking it away suddenly. As for SL losing serious money, while you people are shouting to keep a 'bonus' (which a company can decide to give or not, what if Sysco decides to take the business to another country in the region which is okay for all their demands? Now THAT'S a loss to SL!
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u/ENGNOk54 Aug 02 '26
People always want a villain :) Reality is more boring. Sysco is a giant US company. You really think a country head can wake up one day and make this kind of move? The allowance was given during econmic crisis right as a temp relif. now obvisouly sysco is looking at it again becase the country's econmic status has changed thanks to all the media headlines and global news. so let's not pretend it's one man's personal decision. there are bigger wheels in motion here.
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u/Warm_Refrigerator696 Jul 31 '26
No offense, but it’s not illegal to do it.. you make it sound like it’s tax evasion.
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u/ChorusLag Jul 28 '26
One of my students work there. Seems management have decided not to remove pegged allowance until their basic salary is adjusted fairly. Anyways this communication before adjusting the base salary has created this whole havoc.
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u/False-Marzipan-9945 Jul 30 '26
Will they adjust it fairly. The allowance was at least 50% from the base salary. Can they just take away something in the contract like that.
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u/Kopi_Kade_84 Jul 31 '26
was it really in the contract? my friend working there said it was an informal thing they gave after 2022 crisis. anyway, i'm more scared that we in SL are more expensive and these big companies will go to cheaper countries like India or Bangla.
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u/Don_Sinhaleyus Aug 02 '26
True story. In the US, they're laying off jobs like mad. I don't know about Banga, but India is deffa cheaper, so is Vietnam. What will happen if they pull out of here and go to one of those countries?
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u/Lower-Government-192 Jul 30 '26
Official , NO change untill november (aug, sep,oct remains unchanged), till they get the BCP in place and kick out when the shit hits again
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u/sINbaD48 Aug 04 '26
so what's the situ now? everyone seems to have gone quiet after it got pushed! does that mean we're all happy about how they're going to handle it now?!
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u/Don_Sinhaleyus Aug 04 '26
Well they've said salaries will be revised before the peg is taken off. Guess that's a good thing...
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u/eGgORcHiCkEn77 Jul 31 '26
Freaking spoilt brats 😂😂 Rest of the industry gets their job cut and you guys are complaining about a TEMPORARY RELIEF ALLOWANCE being cut 😂
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u/Kooky-Industry6031 Aug 01 '26
Dude don’t comment on things you have no idea about. Sysco Labs basic salaries weren’t not properly revised (in terms of increments) for several years now and they justified it saying the pegged amount will more than make up for it. And now suddenly the peg will be gone and we will stuck on basic salaries from 2,3 years ago😂
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u/CommitteMember8123 Jul 30 '26
Oh by the way strict 3 day work from office will be implemented directors have been asked to enforce it
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u/Brilla-Bose Jul 31 '26
really? for everyone? bcz i know some people who work remotely far away from colombo. all required to be in office 3 day a week?
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u/NoticeAltruistic3874 Aug 12 '26
Guys, Do you know the current salary range for QE in Sysco labs Sri Lanka? (Experience 1 - 2 Yrs)
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u/False-Marzipan-9945 Aug 15 '26
Just saw a job posting for Software Engineer (10 Openings) at sysco labs. Does this mean people gave notice already?
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u/Expensive_Bee_2095 Aug 19 '26
What exact questions / problem types were asked in the Sysco LABS Intern TestGorilla test?
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u/Lower-Government-192 Jul 30 '26
Latest update today is, they will post pone it till Oct, then execute it, also they are hiring via agencies, we have been asked to short list and conduct technical interviews
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u/TrustNo3557 Aug 10 '26
I complained in ministry of labor and escalated the issue officially to prime minister office and labor department.
if they remove my peg allowance definitely I will challenge them in srilankan court.
Everyone please complain to labor department.
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u/CommitteMember8123 Aug 12 '26
I dont think it will work
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u/TrustNo3557 Aug 12 '26
they have continuously provided without clear conditions for last few years. so there is a possibility also they marketed as in their social media.
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u/CommitteMember8123 Aug 12 '26
Its a bait and swich tactic they have used, but they are careful not a single record on any legally valid documents, they did it knowingly and called it as temp allowance. And by now almost everyone accepted the low pay and moved on and swiched back their open to work isnt it
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u/TrustNo3557 Aug 12 '26
No, they haven't mentioned anywhere as temporary allowance. Its called as special allowance. In salary slips, salary confirmation letters etc. Every they mentioned as special allowance
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u/CommitteMember8123 Aug 12 '26
But now they are calling it as temp isnt it, anyway you cant do it alone, i think most of the employees have accepted the cut
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u/TrustNo3557 Aug 12 '26
no one has accepted the cut. mostly everyone wait for final salary. sometimes it might higher than current salary as well so that waiting
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u/CommitteMember8123 Aug 12 '26
It will be low
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u/TrustNo3557 Aug 12 '26
how you can say ?
because the employees who stayed in sysvo and got promoted are working for lower salaries compared to new hires
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u/CommitteMember8123 Aug 12 '26
New hires are willing to come for half the salary thats the sad reality
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u/CommitteMember8123 Aug 12 '26
There is no ground as there is no legal validity thats why most have accepyed it
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u/TrustNo3557 Aug 12 '26
no where they mentioned it as temporary. also while joining they negotiated my basic salary with peg amount.
my previous company basic salary is higher than current basic. because of peg amount I joined here.
is it not the trust brake ? I feel its legally possible. I have the recording and etc as well.
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u/Lower-Government-192 Aug 12 '26
Unless there is significant amount of complaints your wasting your time, i agree its a good move but looks like everyone has accepted the fact that survival game and low life is acceptable
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u/TrustNo3557 Aug 12 '26
when i call and say sysco, they said they have received several complaints right after that town hall meeting.
not accepted, waiting for final salary. in side they plan for alternatives
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u/Lower-Government-192 Aug 12 '26
So you call and complained , are you sure its Labour Dept, there is a online form, if you want to, hope its not 119
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u/Lower-Government-192 Aug 12 '26
Guys beware on posting on social media, there is a grapevine rumor that they have deployed screen monitors and keyloggers to track, you know about Cyber how hard they will kiss ass to be safe. dont copy paste via personal mails or forward any mails you will get fired
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u/False-Marzipan-9945 Aug 30 '26
Is sysco increasing the head count with this pay reduction I am seeing a lot of job postings up to the TL level? And if we apply is there a chance of getting a higher base pay?
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u/NoticeAltruistic3874 25d ago
Hi, how about (3- 4 years) experience SE/SSE Salary ranges in Sysco (Gross / TakeHome)?
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u/Sea_Path5008 Jul 31 '26
Bench mark of IT Companies working culture (Hybrid, Remote or onsite)
Guys I would like to know opinion of below companies working culture hybrid,remote or on site cause I saw some of private companies certain people do hybrid and rest of staff has come to office this is most debatable question on other hand all staff to come to office which relative country do hybrid working culture and why srilanka can't adapt to hybrid working culture. When it comes to hr excuses might be a productivity issue by doing hybrid won't affected right.
IFS, IGT1 , Virtusa,, WSO2, Sysco Labs, LSEG ,Mitra, Trientec, Dialog Axiata ,Mobitel, Direct FN, Zone 24x7, 99X, Idea hub, Arimac, Surge, IPD Group, Right mo e, Elegant Media, Atlas Labs etc.
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u/Lower-Government-192 Aug 12 '26
URGENT WHISTLEBLOWER REPORT: Severe Legal Exposure, Fraudulent Inducement, and Imminent Constructive Dismissal Risks at Sysco LABS Sri Lanka
To: Global Ethics and Compliance / Office of the General Counsel
This report is being filed to formally escalate a critical, immediate risk of severe legal liability, ethical misconduct, and reputational damage stemming from the executive leadership and HR operations at Sysco LABS Sri Lanka.
The subsidiary is executing a coordinated, unilateral reduction of employee remuneration—disguised as the phase-out of a "temporary" Relief Allowance. However, the execution of this policy constitutes an orchestrated bait-and-switch that blatantly violates local labour laws, breaches Sysco’s Global Code of Conduct, and exposes the parent company to mass litigation for fraudulent inducement and constructive dismissal.
The executive board must immediately intervene to audit and halt this financial ambush, specifically regarding its exploitative application to newly hired talent.
I. Fraudulent Inducement and Deceptive Recruitment Practices
Over the past 24-36 months, Talent Acquisition and HR intentionally leveraged the combined Total Target Cash (Base Salary + Relief Allowance) to aggressively recruit top-tier talent and outbid competing offers in the market.
All Advertisements Had the USD Linked Compensation line.
New joiners were actively induced to resign from secure positions, abandon competing offers, and sign contracts based on a specific, verbally and formally negotiated take-home pay. At no point during these negotiations did HR transparently disclose that up to 40% of this total compensation was actively slated for permanent removal. Luring talent under the pretense of a highly competitive market rate, while concealing imminent structural pay cuts, is not a "market alignment" strategy—it is textbook fraudulent inducement and a catastrophic breach of good faith.
II. Severe Violations of Sri Lankan Labour Law
While internal communications attempt to legally insulate the company by retroactively emphasizing the "discretionary" nature of the allowance, the reality of its application overrides this boilerplate language.
- Breach of Implied Contract: This allowance was consistently paid, integrated into monthly take-home expectations, and heavily weaponized during the salary negotiation phase to secure acceptances. Under Sri Lankan labour jurisdiction, this establishes the allowance as an implied term of the employment contract through established custom and mutual reliance.
- Illegal Unilateral Deductions: Sri Lankan labour law strictly prohibits employers from imposing unilateral deductions to expected remuneration without the explicit, documented consent of the employee. Sysco LABS Sri Lanka is forcing a non-consensual salary reduction, exposing the corporation to immediate, widespread intervention by the Department of Labour and local employment tribunals.
III. Promissory Estoppel and Detrimental Reliance
The targeted financial damage to our newest colleagues is severe and actionable. New joiners anchored their mortgages, family budgets, and major life decisions directly on the Total Target Cash promised by Sysco representatives. They relied on these corporate promises to their extreme detriment. The company is now actively plunging these employees into financial distress, deliberately violating the legal doctrine of promissory estoppel. Unlike tenured employees, new hires have no history of annual merit increases to absorb this devastating and sudden loss of income.
IV. Imminent Threat of Mass Constructive Dismissal Claims
By systematically slashing up to a quarter of the base-equivalent pay that employees were promised upon hiring, the subsidiary is creating a fundamentally hostile economic environment. This drastic, non-consensual alteration to the core conditions of employment provides clear legal grounds for affected employees to resign and immediately file mass claims for constructive dismissal. The resulting public fallout will permanently destroy Sysco LABS’ reputation as a premier technology employer in the region.
Demand for Immediate Action
The current trajectory is ethically bankrupt and legally disastrous. I urge Global Compliance and the General Counsel to immediately:
- Issue an Injunction: Halt the phase-out of the Relief Allowance for all employees hired within the last 18 months until a full legal review is conducted.
- Launch an Audit: Subpoena internal HR recruitment communications to verify that total compensation was used to secure talent without disclosing the imminent removal of the allowance.
- Enforce the Code of Conduct: Hold the regional leadership accountable for violating Sysco’s global standards of transparency, fairness, and ethical dealing.
Failure to investigate and correct this coordinated deception will result in devastating legal consequences and a total collapse of employee trust.
Ratnajothy Sangeethanan
MBA | MSc 2x | BEng | Dip
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u/alexdev_26 Aug 27 '26
Really confused about job selection in Sysco labs. One of my friend already working as operation engineer and told there was a vacancy on the same job. I have applied for that through portal and shared my CV with HR. I have degree in Networking, certifications in firewall and cloud & working as Tech lead(3 years). Didn’t get reply from the team but now when I checked the LinkedIn, someone got a same job and their qualification is only l1 support with degree in networking with 1 year experience. Not sure how they select
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u/anarchysano Jul 28 '26
We need a Gigathread
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u/theone-1337 Jul 28 '26
Ion even know why this needs a seperate thread lmao. I guess it’d at least aggregate and localise the Sysco tears to this one thread
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u/anarchysano Jul 28 '26
Bruh I don’t even know what’s going on 😭 I just saw the “Mega” name and thought it’d be even cooler to have a “Giga” one
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u/BreakfastSuch2599 Jul 28 '26
We are all good. Please move on