TCS hints at resumption of ‘work in office’

Tata Consultancy Services, India’s largest IT services provider by revenue, has urged employees to return to their “deputed location (base branch)” by November 15, indicating that it is preparing employees throughout the country to work from offices. The corporation said in a statement that the return to work will be a calculated approach that will consider staff health and safety, reported The Economic Times.

The company employs 528,748 people worldwide. TCS made the decision to ask its employees to return to their base branches after receiving an official email from Milind Lakkad, executive vice president and global head of human resources, earlier this week. TCS claims that around 5% of its workers currently work from offices.

“We will encourage our associates to return to offices at the end of CY’21, at least initially, before switching to the 25/25 model. This will be done in stages and with flexibility, depending on the respective team leaders and the needs of each team/project,” the Economic Times report, quoting TCS as saying. “We are committed to the 25/ 25 model, but before transitioning to the model we need to start by getting people back to the office and gradually evolve to 25/25.”

TCS had said last year that it would transition to a hybrid workplace model known as 25/25, in which only 25% of its workers would work from the company’s premises by 2025. The remaining staff will be expected to work from home.

“Hybrid work models are here to stay. Both the physical workplace and remote working will play an important role in the new ‘Future Of Work.’ Everyone will eventually be required to come into the office for a period of time while also having the option to work from home. Finally, anything we do will take into account the safety, health, and well-being of our personnel.”