Wipro And TCS Resume WFO! Is it to Tackle Tech Moonlighting?

88% of top IT companies are ready to quit their current IT jobs instead of returning to the offices

While IT major, Infosys, as a big relief to its employees has announced that it would allow for a WFH option for its employees, Wipro and TCS are resuming strict WFO regimes. Infosys management has expressly stated its disapproval of the compulsion in going to an office. Salil Parekh, its CEO said that the company is comfortable with accommodating people's choice to work from home. However, Infosys has been critical of moonlighting, the sole reason for companies shifting back to the WFO regime.

This decision comes at a time when employees' preferences have shifted due to Covid imposed restrictions. Most employees do not seem to be too excited to return to the office and instead they are searching for more flexible job opportunities. CIEL HR Services, a staffing company, in its recent survey concluded that around 88% of top IT companies are ready to quit their current IT jobs instead of returning to the offices. Most of them are mothers and caregivers who are looking for work from home opportunities.

Wipro, keeping in mind the flexibility factor, has asked its employees to work from the office for three days a week overseas and four days a week in India, starting from October 10. In a statement to money control, Wipro said, those in leadership roles will work out of offices three days a week. "Starting October 10, Wipro's offices in India will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. We will not be open on Wednesdays," the email sent by Wipro to employees, states. The company was at the center of attention over moonlighting after it fired around 300 employees found moonlighting for competitor companies. 

Indian companies are planning to bring back employees to offices with a variety of options. TCS recently has also asked its employees to start working from the office for three days a week. They were told to return to the base locations where they were operating before the pandemic.  It said it would follow a rostering system wherein a mix of freshers and experienced would be included based on project requirements. Workers who have medical conditions and health issues can provide doctor's certification which would be checked by the company's medical board. Experts believe that tech moonlighting has certainly escalated the fears among corporate companies as employers cannot supervise the work closely and so the pressure to return to the office.