A Reddit post by a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) employee has raised concerns about workplace practices in India’s IT sector. The user alleged that his manager, with 14 years of experience, was asked to resign immediately, without severance pay, after being labeled a “non-billable resource.” The manager was reportedly forced out despite the company’s usual three-month notice period.
The Project That Couldn’t Be Done
According to the post, the manager’s team was assigned a high-stakes project for an American client, tasked with modernizing 15 legacy IBM applications. These applications, however, were deeply outdated and tightly coupled, making true modernization impossible without rebuilding them entirely. Despite being aware of the limitations, TCS management allegedly pushed the team to deliver the impossible.
Unrealistic Demands and Outcome-Based Pressure
The employee explained that the team was expanded to 10 people and instructed to modernize all applications within just one month. The project was “outcome-based,” meaning TCS would only be paid if results were delivered. After four months of effort, the team concluded that modernization could not be achieved without rewriting everything from scratch.
Manager Declared “Non-Billable”
When the project failed to generate billing, the manager was blamed for poor performance and terminated immediately. The Reddit post highlighted the unfairness of penalizing employees for management’s overpromises. The employee described the firing as “unethical and heartbreaking,” especially since the manager had a family to support.
Broader Concerns About Job Security
The Reddit thread quickly drew reactions from others in the IT industry. Several users criticized Indian IT management for committing to unrealistic client demands and pushing employees beyond reasonable limits. Others argued that job security in IT is fragile, with employees often made scapegoats for project failures. Some even advised fresh graduates to reconsider careers in IT, citing the growing uncertainty.
Awaiting TCS Response
The allegations, if true, paint a troubling picture of how employees are treated when projects fail due to unrealistic goals. Financial Express reported that it has reached out to TCS for comment, though no official statement has been made yet.
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