New Delhi: In a strategic overhaul of its work policy, Infosys, one of India’s leading IT firms, is now requiring lower-level employees to return to the office for a minimum of ten days each month. This move aligns with Infosys’s broader approach to enhance its return-to-office (RTO) strategy while embracing a hybrid work model.
A communication from a Vice President at Infosys has been circulated, urging employees in specific job categories, particularly those classified under band 5 and 6, which includes mid-level managers, project leaders, and entry-level staff, to commit to spending at least ten days per month working from the office. This new policy is set to take effect from November 20, 2023. Additionally, the communication introduces the concept of “In Person Collaboration” weeks, during which all employees will be required to operate from the office.
This decision reflects the prevailing trend in the IT industry, as other major players like Wipro, Capgemini, LTIMindtree, and TCS have already been encouraging their workforce to return to the office more regularly. For instance, TCS has informally asked its employees to be physically present in the office for five days a week.
As Infosys holds the distinction of being India’s second-largest IT firm, this development may have a significant impact on the landscape of remote work flexibility within the country’s tech sector. It’s worth noting that this remote work flexibility initially emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the extent to which this new directive applies to all verticals and divisions within Infosys remains uncertain, as the communication explicitly mentions its applicability to “employees in India locations.”
Infosys has underlined the significance of physical proximity and face-to-face collaboration in its communication, emphasizing that these factors are indispensable for effective teamwork and employee well-being. The company has also acknowledged the need to strike a balance between remote work flexibility and increased in-person interaction.
This announcement comes at a pivotal juncture for the IT industry, which is anticipated to experience its slowest growth year to date. Additionally, the sector grapples with a notable decline in its workforce, making talent retention a challenging endeavor for companies.
Infosys’s decision to bring lower-level employees back to the office aligns with the broader trend in the IT industry, as companies strive to strike the right equilibrium between remote work and in-person collaboration in the pursuit of enhanced productivity and employee engagement.
