Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reportedly halted salaries for over 900 employees who resisted complying with the company's policies, shortly after issuing transfer notices to approximately 2,000 staff. This situation emerged following the Maharashtra labour department's notice summoning TCS officials regarding the contested transfers.
According to Financial Express, the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) voiced strong opposition, stating, "TCS is unethically withholding salaries from employees who resist enforced transfers." The organization condemned the company's tactics, highlighting the financial strain, family disruption, and emotional stress caused by these mandated relocations.
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As per FE's report, around 30 TCS employees weren't assigned any specific projects in the new locations they were asked to move to. Several employees alleged receiving minimal compensation, as low as Rs 6,000 for December, citing their inability to log working hours on the company's Ultimatix portal—an access revoked by TCS.
As per FE report, an e mail to one of the affected employees reads, “This is with reference to your transfer order to TCS Mumbai followed by the transfer email directing you to report to the said branch within 14 days and complete your transfer process. However, it has been noted that you have failed to report to the transferred branch till date.”
It adds, “Considering your failure to report to the transferred location and offering your services, even after 14 days of given timeline, the company is initiating stoppage of your salary with immediate effect. The company is proceeding with further disciplinary action against you for your continued failure to obey company order and breach of term of your employment.”
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The affected employee who didn’t want to go on record said, “We were on bench for about 3-4 months after our project got into some financial problem. During that time, I was asked to go to some other location, without being given a project there. If I am in bench, how does it matter to the company whether I am in Hyderabad or Bengaluru or Mumbai?”
Another affected employee said on condition of anonymity, “In every location, the company has bench strength. So, why have we been sent to other locations just to be in bench? We have joined TCS at this level of salary considering the cost of living in our base location. It will be a raw deal for us to go to a bigger city that has a higher cost of living and lacks family support.”