IT union opposes TCS’ new bench policy; terms it ‘anti-worker’

Bengaluru, 19 June

TCS new bench policy has created controversy as employee union has voiced its concern over the changed rules.

The All India IT & ITeS Employees' Union (AIITEU) has condemned TCS’ new associate deployment policy. According to the new policy, employees have to work for 225 days of billability each year, limiting bench timelines to 35 days a year.

The new rules also mandate that employees will have to proactively approach the RMG (Resource Management Group) to get assigned on projects. The AIITEU termed these polies anti-employee and as a move to reduce headcount.

“The RMG of TCS is known to be responsible for ensuring adequate billability of the employees. While it is true that long period of inactivity has an adverse effect on employees’ compensation, individual growth and overseas deployment prospect, the policy also has an ulterior motive of transferring the responsibility to ensure adequate billability from the RMG to the employees,” AIITEU said in a statement.

“It is an attempt by TCS Management to justify the organisation’s anti-worker policy of Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) that the management often resorts to, during downsizing,” the union added.

The changed bench policy of TCS has raised fears among employees about losing their jobs in the future in case they are not able to be deployed in billable projects.

Notably, Indian IT industry is facing slowdown risks as Trump tariffs have prompted many enterprises to hold technology spend. Deal flow in the first quarter of current financial year has not been sound so far as per industry experts.

Meanwhile, rapid adoption of AI (artificial intelligence) is making many tasks automated, leading to less entry-level job openings in the Indian IT industry.

While TCS’ bench policy has raised concerns among employees of the IT giant, many see many more companies follow suit in the coming quarters.