Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has denied allegations circulating on social media that it forced a long-serving employee into early retirement without severance pay. The company called the claims “absolutely incorrect and false,” pushing back against a Reddit post that has stirred debate about labour practices in India’s IT sector.
The controversy began after a Reddit user alleged that their brother, who had worked with TCS for nearly three decades, was abruptly asked to retire in June. According to the post, the employee was given just 20 minutes to choose between early retirement or termination, with no severance pay or compensation offered. The individual, now over 50 years old, was said to be struggling to find new employment opportunities in a market perceived as unfavourable for senior professionals.
The post contrasted the alleged incident with TCS’s ongoing layoffs, under which more than 12,000 employees are reportedly receiving severance and compensation packages. It claimed the veteran employee received ‘zero severance’ despite his long tenure.
The thread, which attracted more than 700 upvotes, drew strong reactions. Several users suggested the employee may have been pressured into resignation to avoid severance obligations. Others pointed to provisions under Indian labour law, including entitlement to 15 days of wages per year of service under the Industrial Disputes Act, as well as gratuity payments that could apply in such cases.
Some commenters advised approaching the Karnataka IT Union (KITU), which has already filed a case against TCS over job cuts. The discussion has highlighted rising concerns about job security and fair treatment, particularly for older employees, in India’s private sector.
While TCS has dismissed the Reddit account as false, the claims have intensified scrutiny of employment practices in the country’s IT industry.
Source – https://www.hrkatha.com/news/tcs-rejects-reddit-allegations-of-forcing-early-retirement-on-employee/