Oracle's new CFO reportedly got $26M in stock after layoffs; employee alleges 'algorithm' targeted workers with options

The claim

According to a Reddit thread, it has been reported that Oracle's newly appointed chief financial officer was granted roughly $26 million in company stock shortly after the company conducted a round of layoffs. At the same time, a current employee posting on the site allegedly claims an internal "algorithm" was used to prioritize which workers were let go — and that people with stock options were targeted first. These posts have circulated online and prompted sharp reactions among former and current tech workers.

Context and reaction

If true, the timing — big executive awards alongside workforce reductions — will feed a familiar narrative: executive pay soaring while rank-and-file headcount is cut. The allegation about an automated process choosing exits raises thorny questions about fairness and transparency. Who sets the rules? How were equity holdings weighed against performance or role? It has been reported that details remain unverified and Oracle has not published a public explanation tied to the Reddit posts.

What happens next

Allegations like these tend to attract scrutiny from employees, investors and sometimes regulators. Legal and ethical concerns about automated HR tools are already in the spotlight across tech; add high-dollar stock grants and the story becomes combustible. For now, the claims should be treated as unconfirmed. Expect calls for clarity — and maybe a deeper look into how severance, equity and algorithmic decision-making intersect at major tech firms.

Sources: reddit