The move comes as part of the company’s efforts to strengthen its return to office(RTO) approach and hybrid work model.In an email reviewed by ET, one of the vice presidents at Infosys urged employees in select verticals, specifically those in band 5 and 6 (which include mid-level managers, project heads, and entry-level employees), to work at least 10 days a month from the office starting from November 20, 2023.
The email also mentioned the introduction of “In Person Collab” weeks, where all employees would be expected to work from the office.
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This move follows the recent trend within the IT industry, with companies like Wipro, Capgemini, LTIMindtree, and TCS already encouraging employees to return to the office on a more regular basis. TCS, for instance, has informally requested its workforce to visit the office five days a week.
As Infosys is the second-largest IT firm in India, this decision could potentially eliminate the flexibility of working from home in the country’s tech sector, which was initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is still unclear if this new mandate applies to all verticals and divisions within the company. The email states that the new requirement is applicable to “employees in India locations”.
The email from Infosys emphasized the importance of physical proximity and in-person collaboration for effective teamwork and occupational wellbeing. It also acknowledged the need to balance remote work flexibility with increased face-to-face interaction.
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This announcement comes at a challenging time for the IT industry, as it is expected to have its lowest growth year ever. Additionally, the industry is experiencing a significant drop in headcount, making talent retention a challenging task for companies.
