Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is withholding final anniversary appraisals for a segment of its workforce due to persistent non-compliance with its work-from-office (WFO) policy. The move directly links employee compensation adjustments and performance evaluations to adherence to the company’s mandated office attendance. This stringent measure marks a significant escalation in enforcing return-to-office directives among India’s major IT employers.
Appraisal Process Disrupted
The appraisal freeze means that employees who have not met WFO requirements in prior quarters will not have their annual increments processed. Internal communications indicate that a failure to commit to WFO compliance by January 2025 could lead to exclusion from the fiscal year 2026 banding cycle, meaning no performance band will be assigned. This decision impacts the career progression and financial rewards tied to annual performance assessments.
Stricter WFO Mandate
TCS requires its employees to be present in the office five days a week. While other IT firms have adopted hybrid models, often requiring two to three days per week, TCS appears to be taking a firmer stance. The company has also explicitly linked variable compensation components to attendance compliance, reinforcing the importance of physical presence.
Policy on Exceptions
Last year, TCS updated its WFO policy to address exception requests. Employees are permitted to cite personal emergencies for up to six days per quarter, with unused days not transferable. Network-related issues can be cited for up to five entries simultaneously. The company has prohibited bulk uploads or backend entries for seeking exceptions to office attendance rules.