Over the past year, major IT companies have quietly tightened policies, and what was once “hybrid encouragement” in 2024 is now giving way to mandatory office attendance.
Infosys’ recent restrictions on remote work clearly signal this shift.
Infosys Draws the Line on Remote Work, Caps WFH at Five Days per Quarter
Infosys has introduced a firm limit on Work From Office exemptions, allowing employees to work remotely for no more than five days in an entire quarter.
For most of its workforce—particularly those at Job Level 5 and below, covering a large share of engineers and consultants—the expectation is now unambiguous.
These employees are required to be physically present in the office for at least 10 days every month, establishing a clear attendance baseline.
To ensure compliance, the company has moved beyond informal guidelines and introduced automated monitoring systems.
Employees who fail to meet the 10-day monthly requirement are flagged by internal systems rather than relying on managerial discretion.
In some cases, unfulfilled office days may even be adjusted against an employee’s leave balance, reinforcing that this is not merely a “suggestion.”
Infosys’ move reflects a broader pattern rather than an isolated decision within the industry.
TCS, Wipro End Work From Home
TCS has already taken a stricter stance by mandating a full five-day office week for many of its employees.
At TCS, physical attendance is now directly linked to variable pay and promotion decisions.
The implicit message from this policy is clear: limited office presence can translate into reduced financial rewards and slower career progression.
Wipro is also aligning with this return-to-office push starting January 2026.
Under Wipro’s updated rules, employees must spend at least six hours in the office on a minimum of three days each week.
This approach goes beyond simply clocking in, signalling that companies want sustained, meaningful time on-site rather than brief appearances.
Together, these measures indicate that office attendance across leading IT firms is no longer optional or symbolic.
Industry leaders justify the timing by pointing to what they describe as a growing “collaboration debt” accumulated during years of remote work.
With artificial intelligence rapidly changing how software is developed, companies believe closer physical proximity improves learning and adaptability.
They argue that mentoring younger employees, resolving complex problems quickly, and reinforcing organisational culture are more effective when teams share the same physical space.
As a result, the renewed emphasis on office work is being framed not as a rollback of flexibility, but as a strategic response to evolving technological and cultural demands.
