Tech companies are implementing various approaches to motivate their employees to come back to the office. The remarkable level of flexibility that employees experienced during the pandemic is now being reduced as companies reaffirm their expectations and establish authority over the work environment. This places employees in a difficult situation, where they must adhere to these guidelines or risk facing consequences for not doing so.
Earlier this year, the CEO of Cognizant, Ravi Kumar, revealed the introduction of a new application that will empower managers to create a schedule based on requirements. This new app will complement the existing FlexiSeat app, which is used for reserving seats across Cognizant's facilities. The purpose of this application is to enable the company to oversee compliance with the work-from-office policy. In a communication, Kumar emphasized, "Our shared objective is to be present in the office with a clear purpose." He also specified that employees are anticipated to be physically present in the office three times a week or as directed by their supervisors. Cognizant has initiated the NextGen program, which is designed to streamline its operational structure and optimize office space to accommodate the hybrid work environment post-pandemic. Despite reaching out to Cognizant for comments on the new app roll-out, no response was received at the time of publication.
TCS has introduced a new policy that correlates the variable pay of employees with their office attendance. Those who are present in the office less than 60% of the time will not receive any variable pay. Employees with an office attendance between 60-75% will receive 50% of the variable pay. Those who come to the office 75-85% of the time will be eligible for 75% of the variable pay, while only those with an office compliance level above 85% will receive full variable pay for the quarter.
Dell Technologies is planning to monitor employee presence using electronic badge swipes, VPN, and a colour-coding system. The colours used are blue (consistent on-site presence), green (regular on-site presence), yellow (some on-site presence), and red (limited on-site presence). The Register, a tech publication, was the first to report on this development. Dell has a significant presence in India, but the exact number of employees in the country is not disclosed.
Wipro, on the other hand, has adopted a more lenient approach. In a recent communication to staff, the company's chief human resources officer, Saurabh Govil, mentioned the establishment of local-level councils aimed at boosting employee involvement, engagement, collaboration, and networking. Govil also highlighted the introduction of additional in-office activities to promote working from Wipro campuses throughout India.
Infosys's employee engagement platform, InfyMe, enables employees in specific business units to request work-from-home for 11 days within a month. In the previous year, Infosys had instructed certain junior and mid-level employees to come back to the office for ten days each month starting from November 20, which differed from the policies of some other companies that are implementing a five-day work week.
As the world continues to adapt to the changing landscape of work, IT companies must carefully consider the implications of calling employees back to the office. While there may be perceived benefits to in-person collaboration, the reality is that remote work has proven to be an effective and efficient model that offers numerous advantages.
Ultimately, the decision to require a return to the office should be driven by clear, data-driven evidence that demonstrates tangible improvements to productivity, innovation, and employee well-being. Without such compelling justification, IT companies risk alienating their workforce and undermining the trust and flexibility that has been cultivated during the pandemic.
The future of work is hybrid, and forward-thinking IT companies would be wise to embrace this evolution rather than cling to outdated notions of what the workplace should look like.
By empowering employees to choose the work environment that best suits their needs, IT companies can foster a culture of autonomy, trust, and job satisfaction - key ingredients for long-term success in an increasingly competitive landscape.
