India's work-life balance debate intensifies: Here's what's happening across IT and tech majors
Empower your mind, elevate your skills
Almost a week ago, technology and services firm Genpact responded to social media backlash over excessive work hours by clarifying that it follows a nine-hour workday, not ten as widely claimed.Meanwhile, software services major Infosys has introduced a new monitoring system to track remote working hours, a move positioned as supporting work-life balance. A survey conducted in March by New York-based business process management firm Vertex Group in five Indian states revealed that about 52% of employees experience burnout due to poor work-life balance. In February, ET reported that while global companies experiment with four-day work weeks and flexible models, India Inc. largely equates long hours with dedication. Experts noted that in India, compensation often correlates directly with time spent at work, reinforcing a culture of long hours.Infosys has started sending personalised warning emails to employees who exceed standard working hours. Under its current policy, employees are expected to work nine hours and 15 minutes per day, five days a week. Any excess time spent working remotely now triggers an alert.The email includes details such as the number of remote workdays, total hours logged, and average daily hours. Infosys, which employs around 323,500 people, introduced a return-to-office policy in November 2023 requiring at least 10 days per month in office.The company's publicly available Code of Conduct states, 'If you believe that you have been discriminated against, harassed, or have not been given equal opportunities at work, you are encouraged to submit a complaint.' It adds that Infosys is an equal opportunity employer, making decisions based on merit and business needs.Following allegations of a 10-hour workday policy, employees revealed that 'productivity' is tracked via an internal system monitoring daily active hours.A senior staff member told ET HR World that the 10-hour policy 'isn't even official, but is passed through managers.' Frequent resignations among experienced employees have been reported, with new hires often replacing them.Financial Express reported that Genpact offers incentives for longer work hours, employees can earn up to 500 points a month, translating to Rs 3,000 in incentives. There is also an additional 5% bonus (around Rs 150) for every extra hour logged beyond the standard.Genpact's management later clarified that no manager is authorised to mandate extended hours beyond the agreed workday. Leadership emphasised its commitment to maintaining a balanced work culture, even as productivity expectations evolve.Last month, TCS rolled out a new associate deployment policy requiring at least 225 billed business days annually per employee, limiting bench time to a maximum of 35 days per year.Effective June 12, the policy aims to reduce idle time and improve workforce utilisation in line with individual and company performance goals.Employees are also expected to spend 4–6 hours daily on learning platforms such as iEvolve, Fresco Play, and LinkedIn, completing all required training and updating skills regularly.To support faster deployment, TCS has made physical office presence mandatory; flexible or remote work arrangements are largely not permitted. The All India IT & ITeS Employees' Union (AIITEU) criticised the policy, calling it an 'anti-worker policy' aimed at downsizing teams.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
14 minutes ago
- Economic Times
In 2019, Rs 50K was gold and now it can't pay rent: CA explains why most are struggling, not 'surviving' in urban cities
Synopsis Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik has warned that in 2025, earning less than Rs 50,000 a month in metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Pune means barely covering basic expenses. He says rent alone swallows 40-60% of income, with essentials and lifestyle costs doubling in three years. Bengaluru's prime-area rents have surged up to 100% since 2022. Kaushik estimates singles need Rs 20-30 lakh annually for comfort, families Rs 40-50 lakh. Even Rs 1 lakh earners struggle, prompting his call for upskilling, smart budgeting, and early investment. TIL Creatives Representative AI Image Living in India's largest cities has become a battle to stay afloat. Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik says that in 2025, a monthly income below Rs 50,000 in Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Pune means 'barely breaking even' rather than on X, he warned that rents alone consume 40-60% of many urban salaries. Add transport, food, and utilities, and there is little left over. 'Living in a metro today without a strong salary equals financial pressure 24x7,' Kaushik wrote. — Finance_Bareek (@Finance_Bareek) Bengaluru, long considered India's tech capital, has seen one of the sharpest rent hikes. Kaushik pointed out that in prime neighbourhoods, one-bedroom flats that cost around Rs 18,000 a month in early 2022 now exceed Rs 30,000. That is an increase of 70-100%.He linked the rise to several factors — the return to office after COVID, a wave of job relocations, and growing real estate demand from NRIs and investors. Kaushik also highlighted that the price of essentials such as food, energy, and transport has stayed high. Combined with lifestyle spending, this has made metro living nearly twice as expensive as it was just three years ago. For those hoping to live comfortably, Kaushik estimates that in 2025, a single person in Bengaluru would need a CTC of Rs 20-30 lakh a year. For a family with one child, that figure rises to Rs 40-50 lakh, which he says would cover good housing, schooling, leisure, and savings. Kaushik warned that even households earning Rs 1 lakh a month are often stuck living paycheck to paycheck due to lifestyle expenses. His advice is direct: upskill to increase income, manage rent and commuting costs, start investing early, and look beyond headline salaries to focus on take-home pay after adjusting for living summed up the shift bluntly: 'Your Rs 50K/month in 2019 was gold. In 2025, it barely pays rent.'
Economic Times
14 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Supreme Court reserves verdict on JSW Steel's Rs 19,700 crore resolution plan for Bhushan Power
Synopsis The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict on JSW Steel's resolution plan for Bhushan Power and Steel. Key issues include the allocation of earnings generated during the resolution period and JSW's compliance with the plan. Former promoters challenged JSW's actions, while the creditors seek additional funds. The Solicitor General criticized the former promoters, alleging significant financial misconduct. iStock The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas related to JSW Steel's Rs 19,700-crore resolution plan for debt-ridden Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL). A special bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and K Vinod Chandran heard arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the committee of creditors (CoC), senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul for JSW Steel, and senior advocate Dhruv Mehta for the former promoters before reserving the verdict. As many as five pleas were heard afresh after the CJI-led bench, on July 31, recalled its May 2 verdict that had directed liquidation of BPSL and set aside JSW's resolution plan, criticising the conduct of the CoC, the resolution professional, and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for what it termed a "flagrant violation" of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). One of the key issues was whether earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) generated during the resolution period should go to the creditors or remain with the company. The CoC is seeking Rs 3,569 crore in EBITDA and Rs 2,500 crore in delay-related interest. Kaul, representing JSW, the successful resolution applicant, said neither the request for resolution plan (RFRP) nor the resolution plan itself mandated sharing EBITDA with creditors. He said JSW bid for BPSL on an "as is, where is" basis, accepting both its losses and profits, and that the delay in plan implementation was due to the ED's asset attachment, which was lifted only in December 2024. Dhruv Mehta, appearing for the former promoters, challenged JSW's compliance with the resolution plan and defended their right to participate in the proceedings, citing their role as personal guarantors. He alleged that JSW failed to inject the promised working capital and accused the company of benefitting from rising steel prices before implementing the plan. He also contended that the CoC's powers do not extend beyond plan approval by the NCLT and that disputes over non-compliance should be taken back to the tribunal. The solicitor general Mehta described the former promoters as having "brought the company to dust" and called this "one of the worst cases of siphoning" he had seen. He maintained that the CoC's claims over EBITDA and delay interest were justified and that the body remained a legal entity until the Supreme Court's final decision under Section 62 of the IBC. Earlier on August 8, the COC had opposed the plea by former promoters by questioning the maintainability. A bench headed by former top court judge Bela M Trivedi on May 2 ordered liquidation of BPSL while setting aside a resolution plan of JSW Steel Limited for the ailing firm. PTI
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Export outreach widened to 50 countries to negate US tariff hit
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India is expanding its export outreach to 50 countries including in West Asia and Africa to reduce reliance on any single market and mitigate the risks of trade disruptions amid the steep 50% tariffs imposed by the 50 countries account for about 90% of India's exports. The ministry of commerce and industry is working product by product to improve India's exports competitiveness, officials said."The idea is to tap top 50 countries and look at each product and the competitors. India must mitigate risks to improve manufacturing and export competitiveness," said an official. This exercise to explore alternative markets is being done with export promotion bodies and is crucial as India's merchandise exports in June were flat at $35.14 week, the US doubled the tariffs on its imports from India to 50% at par with Brazil and the highest on any country in a move marking an escalation of trade tensions between the two the initial 25% duty came into effect last week, the additional 25% is effective August 27. Sectors such as marine products, textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, are expected to be severely hit by the adds to the concern is that competing manufacturing hubs such as Turkey, Vietnam and Thailand face significantly lower tariffs of 15%, 20% and 19% respectively, making Indian products relatively less competitive in the US market."The Indian gem and jewellery sector, in particular, stands to be severely impacted. The US is our single largest market, accounting for over $10 billion in exports-nearly 30% of our industry's total global trade. A blanket tariff of this magnitude is severely devastating for the sector," said Kirit Bhansali, chairman, GJEPCThe government is also working on a strategy to safeguard India's exports from American tariffs. This includes offering tailor-made schemes under the proposed Export Promotion Mission for the affected sectors, diversion of goods to other geographies, and identifying products with less export orders that could be diverted to meet the domestic government was already focusing on 20 countries to increase exports but now 30 more have been included in the also said that the possibility of trade rerouting through low-tariff destinations such as Mexico, Canada, Turkey, UAE, or Oman-undermining the spirit of legitimate trade and impacting transparency, is another concern.
