Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) recently introduced a policy that is causing considerable anxiety among employees. The new rule, implemented on June 12, restricts the duration employees can remain on the bench without project work to just 35 days. Beyond this limit, workers risk losing out on promotions, or even their jobs. This has led to an outcry, particularly among employees who are now fearing layoffs and uncertain futures.
Several workers have taken to social media platforms, like Reddit, to express their concerns. Employees report being pushed into roles that don’t align with their skill set. For instance, some employees trained in Java and Python have found themselves forced into support roles unrelated to their expertise. Complaints about skill mismatches and relocations to distant cities are also becoming widespread. This situation is adding to fears of mass layoffs, with one post calling it “the first step towards employment rationalization.”
An employee rights group, the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), has voiced its concerns, claiming the policy is exploitative. NITES has called on the Indian government for intervention, highlighting how workers are being threatened with job loss or denial of experience letters if they fail to secure new projects in time. According to NITES president Harpreet Singh Saluja, these workers are skilled professionals temporarily without project work, but instead of support, they face coercion and threats.
TCS, however, has defended the policy, with CEO K Krithivasan stating that the policy simply formalizes an old practice. He emphasized that employees should proactively seek new assignments after completing their existing projects. Krithivasan assured that TCS invests in employee training and supports skill development to close any gaps before deployment.
Despite these reassurances, many are skeptical, especially since TCS is grappling with rising employee costs and slower business growth. The company recently reported its third consecutive quarter of decline, and the rising wage bill is impacting its profit margins. Additionally, increasing automation through AI and changes in client demands have made it harder to place entry-level engineers.
Industry experts believe that this trend of stricter bench policies might continue across the IT sector. With soft business conditions and a shift toward high-demand skills like AI and cybersecurity, companies may push employees to reskill and adapt to new technological needs. For now, however, employees at TCS and other firms are left grappling with the uncertainty surrounding their job security.
