TCS forced resignation(s) :-
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, is facing a storm of employee unrest after reports of forced resignations, abrupt layoffs, and alleged harassment by HR teams emerged across multiple offices.
Two months after the company confirmed that it would cut around 2% of its global workforce , roughly 12,000 employees , as part of a restructuring plan, the fallout is beginning to show. While TCS frames the move as a step towards becoming a “future-ready organisation,” employees describe a climate of fear and humiliation.
“Forced to resign” – Employees speak out
Several employees allege that the layoffs are not just routine exits but systematic pressure to force resignations.
One such employee, Rohan (name changed), who worked at TCS for 13 years, said he endured five months of constant questioning, project rejections, and intimidation before being told to resign. When he refused, his employment was eventually terminated in mid-2025.
“I felt betrayed by the Tata Group company I had been loyal to for over a decade,” Rohan told.
He claimed he was asked to pay back ₹6–8 lakh for the period he was on the bench. Part of this was deducted from his gratuity and leave encashment, with the rest settled directly by TCS.
Rohan, once part of a major automotive project, is now jobless and living at a friend’s house in Pune, hiding the truth from his wife and children.
Allegations of harassment and “fluidity list”
Other employees report sudden calls from HR, revoked system access, and accusations of “moonlighting” without proof.
Many believe that TCS managers maintain a “fluidity list” – a confidential roster of employees marked for possible termination. Those on the list are reportedly given 30 days to either resign voluntarily or face termination.
“Teams after teams are getting fully laid off… even people working on new technologies are not safe,” said one current employee, describing an “environment of fear” where colleagues with 8–10 years of experience are being abruptly shown the door.
What TCS says
In July, TCS said the layoffs are part of a strategic shift towards AI, automation, and digital transformation, arguing that some roles have become redundant.
The company said:
“We are investing in technology, AI implementation, and reskilling. As part of this journey, we will also be releasing associates whose deployment may not be feasible.”
The 2% cuts are expected to impact mid- and senior-level employees the most, especially those on the bench for extended periods.
Wider impact on employees and projects
- Some ongoing projects have been hit, as clients cut costs and TCS recalibrates its workforce.
- Several employees allege they were given just a week’s notice or, in some cases, asked to leave immediately.
- Employee unions, including FITE (Forum for IT Employees) and UNITE (Union of IT & ITES Employees), have raised red flags, calling the layoffs “non-transparent” and “unethical.”
Bigger picture: IT sector turmoil
The TCS layoffs come amid a broader wave of uncertainty in India’s $250-billion IT sector, which is grappling with:
- Global slowdown in tech spending.
- Automation and AI adoption, reducing demand for traditional IT roles.
- Visa fee hikes in the U.S., raising costs for Indian IT companies.
Infosys, Wipro, and HCLTech have all undertaken cost-optimization measures, though TCS’s actions stand out due to the scale and secrecy surrounding the process.
The human cost
Beyond numbers, the TCS layoffs are triggering mental stress, financial strain, and social stigma among affected employees.
“The mental torture was nothing less than living in hell,” said Rohan, recalling months of pressure before his termination.
With mid-level professionals struggling to find new jobs amid hiring freezes in IT, many employees are left in limbo , unemployed, under debt, and afraid to disclose their situation to families.
What lies ahead
Experts say the layoffs signal a permanent structural shift in the IT industry.
- Reskilling will be critical – mid-level employees who fail to adapt to AI and cloud roles face the highest risk.
- Employee unions may intensify pressure on IT giants for fairer practices.
- For TCS, the challenge will be balancing future-readiness with employee trust, a cornerstone of its reputation for decades.
For now, fear looms large inside India’s biggest IT employer. “Nobody knows who’s next,” said a current employee.
Source Link - https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/tcs-layoffs-spark-panic-fear-forced-resignations-with-hr-harassment-allegations-surface-article-152917923