After big tech giants such as Cognizant, Infosys and IBM, it is now Tech Mahindra that has joined the list of tech companies calling their employees to office. In a recent move, embracing a hybrid work model, the company has asked its employees to operate from the office for a minimum of three days a week starting 1 April. The aim is to enhance employee productivity, anticipating a positive impact on its margins.
In an internal communication, the company expressed an understanding of employees’ yearning for “spontaneous interactions, collaborative environments,” and a deeper “desire for human connection,” resonating across various industries.
The internal memo, dated 27 February, from Tech Mahindra’s HR team, outlined the plan to gradually reintroduce office-based work, commencing with three days in-office per week (12 days per month) starting 1 April, 2024.
However, managers are urging employees to return to office three days a week from March, with potential salary deductions for non-compliance, as reported by sources familiar with the matter. Reportedly, the management aims for a phased approach, requesting employees to work in the office for two days a week in March before transitioning to a three-day work-from-office setup.
The internal communication emphasised a settling period in March, during which employees are expected to be in the office for two days per week (eight days in March). Starting 1 April, the plan is to transition to a three-day per week in-office schedule. The communication clarified that if certain business units or projects are already operating from the office, their current arrangements will remain unchanged.
While it remains unclear whether the three-day in-office work week applies universally across all teams, industry analysts suggest that Tech Mahindra’s decision is influenced by uncertainties in demand, particularly in its telecom vertical.
