tcs
tcs
tcs
tcs
tcs
TCS New Bench Policy: The bench period is now limited to 35 days annually. What it signifies is as follows:
A new associate deployment strategy implemented by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) essentially limits bench time to a maximum of 35 business days annually by requiring each employee to work 225 billed business days annually. With effect from June 12, the policy seeks to improve staff utilization and decrease idle time in accordance with the organization’s and each employee’s performance objectives.
TCS’s New Bench Policy Will Affect Pay and Professional Development
“At any given point in time, associates must be allocated for a minimum period of 225 business days in the last 12 months,” according to a corporate document that TOI saw. “Long periods of remaining unallocated shall adversely impact associate compensation, career growth, avenues of overseas deployment in future, and continuity of employment with the organization,” it stated.
The worldwide head of TCS’s Resource Management Group (RMG), which is in charge of talent distribution throughout the organization, Chandrasekaran Ramkumar, presented the revised policy. The RMG is in charge of making sure that associates are consistently working on client projects.
During unallocated periods, associates bear responsibility.
According to the document, associates not assigned to any project must take the initiative to find wo The agreement states that colleagues who are not assigned to any projects are required to obtain employment on their own initiative. “In the event an associate is unallocated, it is the primary responsibility of the associate to proactively engage with the Unit / Regional RMG for seeking allocation and take initiative towards pursuing suitable opportunities provided by the organization.”
Resources that are released to RMG, available for new assignments, and currently reporting to RMG are referred to as unallocated resources.
Upskilling is required for reserve personnel.
While In addition to external platforms like LinkedIn, associates are required to spend four to six hours a day learning on the bench using internal platforms like involved, Fresco Play, and VLS. They must attend suggested in-person sessions, do all necessary training, and keep up with skill updates. Additionally, associates must respond to interview feedback, use TCS’s Gen AI interview coach, and attend all training sessions.
Office-based work becomes the norm.
TCS has mandated physical office presence in order to facilitate quicker project deployment. Generally speaking, flexible work schedules and work from home are not allowed. “However, associates may request short-term flexible work options for personal emergencies in exceptional circumstances, subject to organizational policies and prior approval from the RMG.”
Multiple short-term project assignments discouraged
TCS has also cautioned against frequent short-term allocations across various projects. The policy notes that such patterns may trigger HR investigations and lead to disciplinary action.
An email sent to TCS seeking comments on the new policy did not receive a response till the time of going to press.
A new deployment strategy that restricts the bench period to no more than 35 business days annually has been implemented by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), indicating a more stringent approach to internal staff management. The regulation, which will go into effect on June 12, 2025, attempts to maximize worker productivity and adapt to changing corporate requirements.
The new rules, which were discussed internally and examined by TOI, show a dramatic change in the company culture at the biggest provider of IT services in India. The “bench” phase, during which staff members are not actively working on client projects, has historically been used as a buffer for redeployment, transition, or reskilling. In the Indian IT sector, TCS’s revised structure currently places one of the strictest limits on unallocated time.
The new regulation limits the amount of time that TCS associates can take off the project grid to 225 billable business days per year. The corporation positions the change as a utilization-driven strategy, which strikes a balance between individual performance measurements and organizational priorities.
The policy’s mandate that bench staff work from the office (WFO) is perhaps its most notable feature. Remote work will no longer be allowed for associates who are not actively employed on billable projects. This is a stark contrast to the remote-friendly and hybrid work style that TCS and other IT majors embraced during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
TCS is probably trying to improve accountability and guarantee participation in organized upskilling programs, which are another essential element of the new deployment paradigm, by requiring physical presence.
Workers must participate in mandated upskilling programs if they are not assigned within this 35-day period. In order to guarantee that associates are ready for quick deployment when new client opportunities present themselves, they include organized internal learning modules, certifications, or participation in internal projects.
Additionally, the business has opposed the allocation of numerous short-term projects, indicating a move toward longer, more consistent client engagements. The goal of this policy is to increase delivery cycle predictability and decrease turnover, particularly in the face of a dynamic global business climate.
TCS’s action comes as the industry struggles with slow transaction cycles, limiting client budgets, and increasing margin pressure. Companies are readjusting their strategies—moving away from large-scale hiring and instead focusing on internal agility, talent alignment, and greater resource utilization—as global economic uncertainty continues to impact IT investment.
With more than 600,000 workers worldwide, TCS has often avoided mass layoffs in favor of managing staff through internal redeployment and performance filtering. This strategy—promoting utilization without formally reducing employment—seems to be supported by the new policy.