India’s leading IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is facing serious heat over its newly introduced bench policy. The Pune-based IT union, Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), has approached the Ministry of Labour and Employment, citing serious concerns about employee well-being and workplace ethics.
What the New Policy Says
The policy, effective from June 12, mandates that associates should be “billable” for at least 225 days in a year, allowing a maximum bench time of only 35 business days. Any employee who fails to secure a project within this period risks facing disciplinary action or forced resignation, according to internal communication by TCS’s global head of Resource Management Group (RMG).
Harpreet Singh Saluja, President, NITES said, “After receiving complaints from around 78 employees NITES has officially submitted a formal complaint to the Ministry of Labour and Employment against TCS’s newly implemented Bench Policy. It is deeply concerning and disheartening to review the contents of this policy. While it appears to promote resource optimization and employee engagement on the surface, a closer and empathetic examination reveals it heavily burdens associates, especially those who are between projects, often due to no fault of their own. This policy institutionalizes a culture of fear, surveillance, and pressure during one of the most vulnerable phases of an employee’s professional cycle. From mandatory project allocation, forced engagement with the Resource Management Group (RMG), to unrealistic expectations around availability and learning hours during bench time, the policy dehumanizes and penalizes employees instead of supporting them. There are even veiled threats of disciplinary actions, performance improvement plans, denial of career growth opportunities, and terminations. This isn’t about performance or productivity. It’s about control. It reflects an organizational culture that prioritizes billability over empathy, metrics over morale. NITES strongly condemns such exploitative measures and urges regulatory intervention to safeguard employee dignity.”
Allegations of Surveillance and Fear
While the company maintains the policy ensures better resource utilization and project alignment, NITES paints a different picture. The union claims that the new framework fosters a “culture of fear and coercion,” where employees are under constant pressure to remain billable and scramble for new assignments—even before their current ones end.
Forced Resignations and Threats?
Employees reportedly receive multiple emails pushing them to resign and are warned that raising grievances may lead to denial of experience letters. According to NITES, this isn’t a performance policy—it’s a control mechanism. Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES, called the move “dehumanizing” and said it puts immense psychological pressure on already vulnerable employees.
Awaiting TCS’ Response
ETHRWorld has reached out to TCS for an official response. As of now, no comment has been received. Meanwhile, the issue has triggered wider conversations around ethical workforce management and employee rights in India’s IT industry.
