HCL's back-to-office plan: Come in three days a week, or forget about holidays

HCL Technologies has devised a measure to make sure its India-based employees change out of their pajamas and head into the office: making on-premises attendance a condition of eligibility for leave.

Indian union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) told The Register HCL Technologies is mandating employees work at least three days a week, and at least 12 days a month, or kiss leave eligibility goodbye.

It's a move the labor org has condemned as draconian and illegal.

"Under the Indian labor laws, particularly the Shops and Establishments Act, any modification in leave policy should be made in consultation with the employees and should not lead to undue hardship," NITES argued.

"In the post-pandemic era, flexible working arrangements have become the norm, and imposing such rigid requirements is a step backward," it added.

NITES said workers were informed of the policy change verbally by their managers.

This may have been followed up with an email from HR, as reported by media outlets that also alleged that the policy has already taken effect.

Accrued annual leave will be applied to the days the employee isn't in the office, claimed one news outlet – rather than a preferred date of choosing by the employee. Once leave is over, pay could potentially be docked.

HCL Tech employees in India receive 18 days annual leave and one day personal leave if they've worked for the company less than three years. That increases to 20 days annual leave and two personal days after three years' tenure.

An HCL spokesperson sent The Register the following statement:

HCL Technologies called employees back into the office for three days a week around four months ago. Employees who were a part of the services giant's Digital Foundation Services (DFS) were told in February that non-compliance could result in a pay cut. Graduate recruits were required to attend the office every day.

Managers were required to track compliance on a designated portal.

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Over the last two years, businesses around the world have been pulling their employees back into the office after COVID-19 lockdowns saw many work remotely.

HCL's fellow IT outsourcers Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro have all ordered three-day weeks in the office.

TCS has worked to enforce its policy by linking it to variable pay – the Indian term for performance bonuses. It's a strategy HCL Technologies CEO C Vijakumar has said he isn't considering – although as Moneycontrol notes, HCL doesn't use bonuses as widely as its rivals.

Quarterly variable pay accounts for less than three percent of annual compensation, and is not applicable for mid- and senior-level employees at HCL Technologies.

Outside India, Google also told its employees to come back on campus for three days a week last June. Those who don't could get a call from HR to outline "next steps."

And in May Dell ordered employees to be onsite at least 39 days per quarter – the equivalent of three days per week.

The Reg was told before the announcement that workers below a certain pay grade would have the option to choose to be fully remote – at the expense of career advancement opportunities.

Whether that threat is being exercised is unknown, however, as half of the PC maker's US staff reportedly opted for remote work.

The Reg understands that Dell managers are required to track attendance and excuses for not coming to the office, but no corporate requirements or punishments have visibly materialized – yet. ®