Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, has announced a major change to its work-from-home policy that will directly affect employee appraisals, attendance expectations and workplace culture. Under the new rules, employees who work remotely will not be eligible for annual appraisals unless they maintain five days of office attendance per week. This marks a clear shift toward in-office expectations after years of hybrid flexibility.
What The New Policy Means
According to the updated internal guidelines, TCS employees must be physically present in the office five days a week to remain eligible for performance appraisals, promotions and related increments. Those who continue to work fully remotely — without meeting the mandatory in-office requirement — will find their appraisals paused or deferred until they comply with the attendance rule.
This change affects both existing employees and new hires, and is designed to prioritise onsite collaboration and team engagement as key performance criteria.
Why TCS Is Making The Shift
TCS leadership has argued that in-office interaction boosts productivity, innovation and team bonding, especially for complex projects requiring real-time collaboration. The company believes that frequent face-to-face interaction helps nurture mentorship, accelerates decision-making and improves overall organisational culture.
After years of pandemic-era remote work, the IT sector has been reevaluating hybrid models. While some firms continue with flexible arrangements, TCS appears to be staking its future growth on a stronger office presence.
What Employees Need To Do
Employees who want to be considered for performance appraisals must now ensure they are present in the office at least five days a week. Those who are unable or unwilling to meet this requirement may need to discuss alternative work arrangements with managers, though appraisal eligibility will remain tied to attendance.
Teams and project leads are expected to monitor attendance and performance more closely, linking physical presence with contributions and goal achievements.
Impact On Employee Morale And Industry Response
The announcement has triggered strong debate among TCS employees and within the broader IT community. Critics argue that strict in-office mandates may reduce flexibility, especially for workers balancing personal commitments, travel challenges or family needs. Many in the workforce had grown accustomed to hybrid schedules that allowed remote work without penalty.
Supporters of the policy say it reinforces discipline, strengthens mentorship pathways, increases accountability and aligns TCS more closely with traditional productivity models.
Sector-Wide Implications
As one of India’s largest employers in the technology sector, TCS’s policy change may influence other IT firms’ approaches to remote and hybrid work. Companies that have already tightened office attendance expectations may now feel validated in doing so, while others that favour flexibility might reassess how they balance remote options with organisational needs.
What This Means For Performance And Productivity
By tying appraisals to office presence, TCS aims to ensure that physical collaboration is viewed as an essential element of employee performance. The company expects that the new mandate will boost cross-functional teamwork, strengthen project delivery and enhance peer mentoring — outcomes that remote work models sometimes struggle to support.
