In a bold shift aimed at enhancing productivity and resource alignment, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has introduced a new workforce policy that limits the bench period to just 35 working days in a calendar year. This revised framework, officially implemented from 12 June 2025, is designed to tighten performance expectations and sharpen internal deployment practices.
Under this new rule, TCS employees are expected to log a minimum of 225 billable days annually, leaving little room for extended time off active projects. Traditionally, the bench period served as a soft cushion allowing time for reskilling, role transitions, or waiting between assignments. But this cushion is now significantly trimmed as the company leans into a performance-oriented culture.
Employees who remain unallocated beyond the allowed 35-day window are required to participate in structured upskilling programs. These include certifications, internal training modules, or short-term assignments that ensure the workforce remains agile and ready for deployment when opportunities arise.
A key update under this TCS policy is the end of remote work for those on the bench. Associates who are not currently working on billable client projects must now report to office physically. This move marks a major departure from the hybrid and remote-first culture that flourished during the pandemic years and signals a return to in-person engagement, especially for training and readiness activities.
TCS has also discouraged placing employees in multiple short-term assignments, indicating a strategic preference for longer, more stable project engagements. This is expected to reduce churn and increase continuity in service delivery, especially in a global environment where client budgets are tight and new contracts take longer to close.
With over 600,000 employees globally, TCS has generally avoided mass layoffs. Instead, it has focused on internal mobility and performance-based role allocation. This new policy continues in that direction—pushing for optimal workforce utilisation without resorting to job cuts.
As global economic uncertainty weighs on IT spending, TCS’s latest move reflects a wider trend across the tech industry: fewer hires, tighter budgets, and a stronger emphasis on internal capability building.
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