In a bid to get more employees into the office, HCL Technologies has introduced a controversial new policy that links office attendance to vacation entitlement.
A report from The registerclaims that the trade union India’s Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has confirmed that HCL employees have to work in the office three days a week and 12 days a month.
If employees do not adhere to the industry’s usual return policy, they will lose certain vacation days, a move criticized by employment experts.
Work in the office or you will lose your vacation days
NITES has raised concerns that the new rules could be illegal under Indian labour laws, specifically citing the Shops and Establishments Act. The union argues that policy changes should be consulted with workers and not create unnecessary hardship.
The union noted: “In the post-pandemic era, flexible working arrangements have become the norm, and imposing such rigid requirements is a step backwards.”
HCL Technologies has defended its position, with a spokesperson explaining: “Our hybrid work policy offers flexibility, with people in middle and senior management working in the office three days a week, which supports collaboration.”
The company spokesperson added: “All other employees follow the working arrangements necessary to meet customer obligations and these are planned by the relevant managers.”
Other major Indian IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro, and global giants like Google and Apple, require certain employees to adhere to a three-day week policy.
Moreover, HCL is not the only company forcing employees: TCS linked attendance to performance bonuses.
However, the enforcement of office work mandates has been met with mixed reactions worldwide, with many employees arguing that greater flexibility improves job satisfaction and therefore productivity. Yet companies continue to argue that face-to-face meetings are the best way to create productive environments.