TCS Introduces New Criteria for Employee Promotions and Variable Pay, Tying it to Return-to-Office Policy

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has unveiled a new policy linking salary hikes and variable payouts for employees to their compliance with the company's return-to-office (RTO) mandate. Unit heads have communicated this policy shift to their teams. According to the new rule, promotions, especially for critical grades, will be contingent on an employee's track record of working from the office, as reported by TOI.

Additionally, TCS is offering digital compensation to entry-level professionals who have completed specified courses, making them eligible for higher salaries beyond the standard annual compensation of ₹3 lakh. Compliance with the return-to-office policy is deemed essential for the approval of such cases. TCS is now requiring employees to return to the office for the full workweek, effectively ending remote work for certain teams.

TCS has instructed employees to report to their designated offices rather than opting for locations closer to their residences. The HR department is granting limited work-from-home options on a case-by-case basis.

While TCS is implementing this return-to-office policy, other IT firms, including Infosys and Wipro, have also made it mandatory for employees to work from the office. Wipro, for instance, has introduced a mandatory hybrid work policy, necessitating employees to be physically present in the office for a minimum of three days per week.