Dear Mr. Chandra,
TCS is world leader technology service provider. You are working hard to make TCS more agile and competitive. All employees are happy to strengthen your hands. You have won various prizes like best CEO of the year. TCS market cap has grown multi fold, TCS margin is highest above 27% (far above it was in IT golden days), utilization above 86%.
TCS management official version on these mass layoffs says, it is routine process of involuntary attrition happening every year for low performers. Previous 2 year numbers have been disclosed first time with 2 figures for this year (initially around 25,000 and now 2574 till now).
We all TCSer request you to transparently communicate exact layoff criteria and policy. On media they say only under performers are laid off while letters and HR team is giving different message. TCS top management talks about ethics, Tata code of conduct etc. But same level of ethics is not followed in this mass lay off.
This unethical mass lay off has raised various questions and all TCSers want answer from you.
- TCS is doing lay off with even ‘C’ and above bands. As per TCS curve fitting process more than 60% associates are given band ‘C’ or below. Band ‘C’ is given to associate achieving 100% result, “Meeting Expectations” and gets regular increment of fixed & variable component as well. Are these more than 60% associates underperforming? How is TCS running with these large numbers of low performers? How was TCS able to manage with these low performers for so long?
- Various committed, dedicated, hard working associates servicing TCS for more than 10 years are laid off. How did they become low performer all of a sudden?
- TCS has a process to improve associate performance though Performance Improvement Process (PIP). Can you share the details of how many of these ‘low performers’ were put under PIP for how long? What is outcome of that? How many associates didn’t improve despite going through PIP? Disclose all these data. Disclosing the data could prove your claim of following ethics a little at least. One good point may be to accept all layoff numbers, reason transparently with proper severance package.
- ‘Under performers’ is very bad label painted on various hard working, committed, dedicated associates despite consistent good rating. They are seen as under performers by kids, wife/husband, family and society. They will hear same if they go to any new employer. It is very bad slap on committed associates’ There are so many associates who never got rating below ‘C’. As per TCS appraisal process ‘C’ band is given to associate who is achieving 100% assigned goal (meeting expectation). It is perfectly fit situation to file reputation damage case in court. Why are you demoralizing, insulting your own people and TCS at large?
- TCS is a very large organization and has a well established appraisal system for long time. There are certain unwritten guidelines prevailing regarding rating. One of them is even if you have done work of ‘A’ rating and taking release then associate should be ready to go 1 or 2 steps down. It is openly discussed. Supervisor says if you want release then will be given 2 levels below rating and associate accepts considering other critical factors. Rating is given based on what is anticipated out of associate in next year rather than work done in previous year. Supervisor wants to keep good rating for associates who will work with him in next year because they are just focused to own team. To keep them “happy” and “motivated”. Are you unaware of this practice? What have you done to address this?
- Various letters and HR staff discussion with associates suggest various reasons of lay off. Some of reasons cited are:
- TCS has reviewed the available pool and skill requirement at your level and had come to decision that your skill is no more required for company. If company feels that existing skill set is not in much demand and some different skill is in demand. Why did company not follow a more transparent ethical approach like?
- Prepare details of skills in excess and communicate organization wide.
- List of skills in demand
- Arrange training, course material, support associates who wants to get trained in new skills in demand.
- Still if there is any gap and associates are not upgrading then give them warning to those specific associates, time period to upgrade before taking any drastic step.
- Did HR and business units communicate such message in the organisation? Why such specific message is not conveyed to impacting associates that you upgrade your skill in this duration else you will be laid off within ‘N’ number of days?
- Is there a single example like this even discussed in organisation and communicated to organization?
- TCS will not be able to provide you more opportunities at your level to go up higher ladder.
- Performance rating is considered as key parameter
- Scalability to new role
- Requirement of skill
TCS was the only organization to honour the campus offers during 2001 slow down. This mass lay off has created a big panic in associates. Everyone is feared; highly de-motivated, good associates are leaving themselves. It will give long lasting bad impact to TCS. Associates are feeling cheated. Same top management (CEO) teaching ethics, Tata code of conduct etc is following all unethical practices.
Now TCSers who are share holders along with other shareholders planning to attend AGM and get clarification because CEO feels answerable to only shareholders and not to employees.
You have tarnished the reputation of TCS and Tata group based on ethics and people oriented image built over years by previous leaders. It gives message to ranks that everything is happening to justify 60% increase in your compensation and remain CEO until your retirement.
Best Regards,
A TCSer
( The above open letter is written by a TCSer in New Delhi)
54 Comments
Frustated TCSr January 30, 2015 at 9:29 pm
Thank you. You should also have added why ISU head approval is required for senior associates to get induct to the account. Even associates who are consistant band ‘B” for 3 years, are struck for a long time (unallocated) because of this criteria. Mr Chandra is not aware?
dsylexic January 31, 2015 at 1:50 am
Um, this is no longer true. Atleast since Jan 15
TCSer February 17, 2015 at 1:10 pm
It has happened to me on January 22 and it got all the approvals only by 30th January for allocation. In fact it happened to me when I returned from a business visit to a client from new growth market where the client business comes under my ISU but geography is in new growth market so I was allocated to new growth market ISU WoN at onsite. After returning, to get me allocated to my original ISU WoN, RMG asked to get approvals from all the levels and a justification that why a senior associate is required in the ISU and why existing associates can’t perform that role or why don’t hire a junior associate. It was a business consulting role, I don’t know where tcs can get anybody cheaper than me or how they can get it done from someone without experience. I didn’t get the over all exercise done by rmg when I was originally from the ISU. Looks like tcs intentionally wants to make associates sit without work and then fire.
Sachin Jaggi January 31, 2015 at 11:16 am
@Frustated TCSr:- Dude,the letter it self has covered all the mishappenings that are currently going inside TCS.If you are so concerned about allocation of senior associates,have you done anything on your behalf?People like you can only suggest…if required you dont have any guts to come out and say anything against TCS.
@TCSer January 30, 2015 at 11:43 pm
I want this message to go to Cyrus Mistry. With in span of 2 to 3 years the company’s Market capitalization goes from 250,000 Crores to 500,000 crores. This is just because of every TCSer hard work and dedication.
Ex-Tcs February 1, 2015 at 8:20 pm
Your are very right.. But will the Idior (Mr. Moon) understand that ?
Will that maroon understand that, it’s contribution of the same TCSers, whom he is kicking out. That traitor is enjoying highest paid CEO status!!!
Abdul Nazir C V February 7, 2015 at 2:14 pm
i was terminated after 16 yrs in TCS not willing for night shift and location transfer (I was ready for deputation). I had family and health issues for my decision. Sr management (IOU heads) not even replied to my mails when I raised I concern ..
a TCSer January 31, 2015 at 12:29 am
Lets form our union.
a TCSer January 31, 2015 at 12:32 am
Why is the govt sleeping? They all are in same boat. Lets show them that we hv also voting power. If they don’t take care of us then we will teach them a lesson.
Anupam January 31, 2015 at 10:17 am
IT and ITES dont come under labour law…. thats where the problem lies and the Gov has not done anything to get it into the preview of labour law.
ex tcser January 31, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Thats the biggest problem here people just assume and suppress others voice too. Every organisation employees comes under industrial. Act. Show govt that 3 lakhs qualified enough to shake govt. Are IT/ITES not contribute to GDP ?
Don’t we have all the rights of constitution from 14 to 21 acts ? Only opening accounts for all people in country doesn’t mean development. Providing them with source of income is governance. We have to force govt for providing employment insurance as they are deducting TDS like other countries with no benefit. When our govt is not for ppl and only for riches ? Shake out this govt and create history to show world that most branding govt is inefficient for governance.
VR Rahul February 3, 2015 at 3:53 am
Because TCS donated 100 crores for renovating the toilets in Govt Schools.
Abdul Nazir C V February 7, 2015 at 2:10 pm
we have seen what chandra and modi did in Japan…
well wisher of TCS January 31, 2015 at 9:44 am
The open letter says it all. TCS was a great company..this has brought irrepairable damage to the TaTa work culture.
Debapriya Das January 31, 2015 at 2:47 pm
I am a former TCSer, am empathizing wid all the guys who have faced the axe. But, having said that I very much feel dis layoff was necessary, may be it was necessary long before. All the bright young students who are joining TCS are leaving TCS because of a section of their seniors in the organization, seeing their incompetency and yet authority. Now coming to the rating and appraisal process, I think we all know how it works. It has perhaps never worked just based on performance, and the persons responsible for it has been the persons sitting at the top and the mid management level. TRUE, many good persons too have lost their jobs, but for a better future for TCS and other TCSers, i think its just a hard sacrifice.
Abdul Nazir C V February 15, 2015 at 11:31 am
Lay off necessary, But it should follow well defined process. It can’t be used for personal vengeance of middle managers. According to my understanding TATA HR policy says If bad performers has to be laid off, they help the employees to get into other tata group of companies. Actually performance depend on environment and the team they work. Who ever are there in TCS are once good performers, because of bad people management some are treated as bad performers. If a leader can take confidence of all people on board then it would have been great success to the TATA group.
Debapriya Das February 17, 2015 at 6:49 pm
True. Their should be a well defined process. But what should have been the base of any well defined process. Seniority can’t be the main base or the most important parameter. Anyways, we need to track the performance. But how do we track it!! Ratings, Current Supervisor Feedback, Feedback history!!! How?? All the methods are flawed. Flawed not primarily due to the calculation mechanism, rather the hands making the calculations. Generally the “Butter Factory Owners” would be having the best of all these. There are HR policies, but they too are like the Indian President. You are the supreme power on paper, but can not send back any decision for review more than once. Since I am from the field of data science, I would like to bring in some basic concepts of Sampling Theory. Out of around 3 lakh employees in TCS, if we remove the so called junior layer of 0-7 years, we are left with less than half of the total strength. Now, above the mid management layer ranges mostly in between 7-highest experience in years. An organization is known to the outside world because of its brand image, service quality and top management layer mostly. Also in the mid management layer lies most of the bad eggs, since all the performance metrics are anyways flawed a random sample can be assumed as highly probable in picking out the bad eggs. Like any statistical technique, this does not guarantee 100% accurate results, but under the circumstances this is probably the best.
Suman Haldar January 31, 2015 at 4:29 pm
I am a former TCSer too. I personally think that this layoff will impact the company success in the long run and to be very true the damage will really be irrepairable..
haraharamdevaki February 4, 2015 at 5:06 am
well, i don’t think so. There are many freshers standing in line to get a taste of IT. TCS will have no damages because of this. If at all it has something, it will be Profit to Chandra’s pocket. He knows that.
Suman Haldar February 4, 2015 at 12:16 pm
I don’t give a damn to any company..I love my work and I’ll see my profit and my wallet weight not Chandra’s one. But one thing, I have personally seen people of niche skill set leaving the company for this lay off. It’s chandra’s headache to make the company survive not mine.
TCSer January 31, 2015 at 8:05 pm
Very well written but not sure if they can really make any impact on people like Chandra who have very thick skin like that of Rhinos!
Well wisher February 1, 2015 at 1:01 am
Well said..friend… At least your letter covered many of the issues, which Mr Chandra must / must not aware about, and i am sure he will address and should reply to your letter which will proof that he likes/ loves his associates, being the best CEO of the year. Else otherwise, he has to think if the CEO award is valid or not.
There have been a lot of awards being received by this company well every week/ month. In order to keep the best impression and the value of those awards, these issues should have been addressed… And i am sure this will be addressed in a front page of a news paper or company website.
Ex-TCSer February 1, 2015 at 9:16 am
There are lot many chatu and underperformer associates with TCS. They manage to hide themselves. And the HRs and RMG are the dumbest people I have ever seen. All this are leading into a mess. BTW Mr. Chandra is also among the chatus. Talk to any of his mate. He mindset and attitude is like British colonizer. He thinks that the ground workers are slaves. TCS does not need an enemy till Chandra is here. Just wait… TCS already has “Vinas Kaal” and now it is applying “Viparit Buddhi”.
Kiran February 1, 2015 at 3:55 pm
You have summarized it quite aptly “Vinaasha kaale vipareetha budhi”!
Praveen February 6, 2015 at 5:12 pm
The big problem is the persons who butter and who bosses are the ones who’ll remain in company. It shall impact TCS very badly.
Mano Jac February 2, 2015 at 5:09 am
Its number game for high official to get more bonus , if you are laying off exp staff and get freshers they can save min 4 lacs/person . Imagine the profit will grow 50,000 X 4 lacs for next year and all the high profile people can clain the profit as their success and get the blood money as thir bonous
Abdul Nazir C V February 7, 2015 at 2:06 pm
mostly these are decisions of greedy middle managers they don’t have any creative/innovative solutions to show improve the productivity/profit
Preethi February 2, 2015 at 8:18 am
You have every right to hop company every 1 or 2 years for your personal career growth. Then the company reserves same right to do this. If you have the right to jump, then company has the right to send you off. They know better, CEO and team is doing this for the betterment of the company.
Raj February 3, 2015 at 9:43 pm
Pls understand, It shud not be a mass scale massacre. It shud be planned with associate involvement, if at company is making losses. Tata management has kept employees before all. Instead of continue recruiting, why not plan to effectively utilise existing employees….but WHO cares?…
Abdul Nazir C V February 7, 2015 at 2:04 pm
TCS has subsidaries like CMC,WTI etc. Why can’t they re deploy people on bench to those companies. Why can’t they utilize CSR fund to give work for terminated employees ?
s muthu February 13, 2015 at 6:22 pm
good idea, Abdul. but if we understand the core reason for terminating us, its the greedy profit. its not that TCS doesnt have work which can be obviously proven by their last quarter greedy revenue of 5000+ crore. if they give work for terminated employees, how they can earn more profit
Abdul Nazir C V February 15, 2015 at 11:23 am
I think it will be better idea to approach the members in director board(who respect tata values if any, ) Actually TCS Hr is not able to utilize their resources effectively. They made idle the great talents.. And it is difficult to get job for this terminated employess because of out dated skills.
s muthu (terminated TCSer) February 17, 2015 at 9:46 am
Meeting the board might have been a great idea. But dont you think that this decision (which is a major decision which will trigger positive/negative impact) must have been discussed with the board already and TCS management managed to convince the board that this layoff will lead to more profit only. So, the board also supportive of this layoff.
I am not sure if you are from TCS or IT. but this lay off is a different game played with different reasons, profit being the first, unlike you thought as HRs and outdated skills as the reasons. including me, there were many employees who were working for a project when abruptly got terminated. so, where is case of outdated skills as if we were on the bench. and more to highlight, there are lot of them to be sent abroad based on their skills and requirement, but we were stopped going abroad because they planned the termination for us. and lot of them sent back from abroad who were all in some projects. I guess you will stand corrected on this then.
And it is not the job of HRs to utilize the talents, atleast not these days or in TCS. if you talk to people about their HR experience (atleast the seat-warming ones in TCS), you will be surprised to know they hardly contribute anything to the company or help with an employee. Based on my experience, HRs are taking only easy jobs and if there is anything tough, they find lame and shameful excuses to stay away from the issues which is aligned with the nature of women. Unfortunately for some mysterious reason HRs have been appointed mostly with women, they think that their job is to arrange for birthday celebrations and games, or come dressed fancily with sarees on occasions. they hardly read anything written to them especially when it is more than 4 lines and they dont know how to handle disagreements and conflict management as TCS employees dont need HRs for anything else. HR team is actually redundant and should be removed and whatever they do can be done within the project of an employee.
Pradeep February 5, 2015 at 11:23 pm
Preethi: When employee quits, employer can get guaranteed replacement through internal workforce or external hiring. When employee gets fired where’s the guarantee of another job? How will the person support his/her family?
s muthu February 6, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Preethi,TCS deserves people like you. You know why? You dont think. Like Pradeep said in any case the replacement will happen as there are more skilled people on the bench. So, there is a surety for TCS to fill a position quickly whereas it is not the case with the laidoff employee like me. if you follow this whole layoff news properly, it is the question of having it in unethical manner by TCS. if someone is thrown out by saying under-performer instead of saying TCS is profit greed, will he not lose the chances of getting a job elsewhere even if he is skilled, hardworking. no company is giving a chance now after seeing the under-performer statement in public by TCS and everyone is struggling now.
lets apply your responses back on you being a woman. if TCS says you are not fit to finish your work properly and you have to stay late, then why should the company let you leave at 6PM or why should the company spend money and give you escorted cab? It becomes your personal thing, right? Company reserves the right not to give you a cab or anything because “They know better, CEO and team is doing this for the betterment of the company”.
if you all bring petty issues and raise chorus, everyone has to rationalize and support women but when it comes to others, it becomes company’s rights, doesnt it?
well, when you lose a job with unethical reason and struggle for everything, i am sure you will think of every word of this post!
Preetam February 3, 2015 at 12:06 am
I think TCS management has made a very short-sighted decision, which is going to have a terrible impact on TCS in the long run. One thing that is very clear is TCS Management lacks basic common sense!
s muthu February 6, 2015 at 7:49 pm
yes, i also developed a thought that TCS is heading towards disaster with their decision layer occupied with immature people now.
Abdul Nazir C V February 15, 2015 at 11:34 am
Once Ratan Tata told TATA is running an industry not Business, Now TCS is shifting toeards Business, a Self Dissaster. They forgot their Values….
Raj February 3, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Pls share this letter to media and let publish and display on TV to make the necessary strong impact
haraharamdevaki February 4, 2015 at 5:05 am
TCS is a sick place to work
One TCSer February 4, 2015 at 4:03 pm
You are correct haraharamdevaki. The senior management people are bloody basters.
I was continuing in TCS since TCS 8+ years. My Program Manager release me from project in 26 hours. and TCS Branch HR released me in 35 days. even the letter print date is the next day of my allocation end date in project.
A company under TATA group own by Ratan TATA can do this behave, even if they are most profitable unit in ASIA.
I am strongly in oppose of this bulk firing without + No prior ultimatum + Average performers “C” band.
I also don’t want to go back in TCS or any company of the TATA group in future. Now it is not Ratan Tata company, Its a bloody people’s company who don’t believe his old employees and put thousands of his staff (along with their family, kids, friends and relatives) in trouble.
If anybody from TATA senior management is reading this message, please convey to your MD/CEO about this unethical action and its bad impact on their goodwill and reputation.
Thanks and regards,
One TCSer
Abdul Nazir C V February 7, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Tata could have redeploy them in other tata organizations.
EXX TCSER February 4, 2015 at 6:59 pm
Hi Everyone I was also a TCS employee and I have resigned now and doing my own business…in the first year i got D band for no reason my lead fought for it but nothing happened…next year i got B when i was expecting an A but it went to another guy who was favorite of my manager then…next year i got A well u can understand how good my work was…but after that a new manager came..i asked her from start to not to worry i will do all the work and u wont have to think about it..i deployed all the projects without any defect in all my career…i got 4.2 in H1 and 4.5 in H2 in last year and then i discussed about my band…i was expecting an A but i was not one of the favorite…and in discussion my manager gave me feedback that i have denied few works to do which i never did and that became an argument and that led me to a C band..after that I asked for release but that was also not an option…so finally after getting frustrated i resigned..i know everyone is not like that but few ppl are making organization sick…
s muthu February 6, 2015 at 7:45 pm
it is a beautiful letter to the most selfish person in TCS. but as saying goes, we can wake up the person who is actually sleeping or even wake up the dead but we cant wake up who pretends to be sleeping.
now a lot of people in the world know that how TCS has been operating filthily in the last few years. and now i am linking this unethical lay-off to all the awards which CEO has been getting and showing off in very short span. do you guys think all those awards would have come in the right way. i am beginning to think he would have got it through improper channel as they sure know how to do the things in unethical way and make it look good on the outside.
i have been part of the legal proceedings against TCS by being a laid off employee and for one case TCS b(r)ought a senior lawyer who is considered as most famous lawyer advising even the govt etc. but i would say he is a joke staged by TCS. he mentioned that laid off employees are not workman as per the law. then shouldnt he ask the same question back to TCS as what are they who are all working in TCS at present. if non-work man are to be laid off, then what TCS has been recruiting.
i just wish somebody help publish all this in the news to remove the thick mask of TCS.
XTCSer February 6, 2015 at 11:34 pm
Hi, I got a chance to work with a Manager who will give A and B band for Fish Curry. Big Shame on U Mr NP.
Saurabh Jain February 20, 2015 at 7:46 am
I am also an Ex TCSer, ex CTS. Ex HCL employee…believe me all these Indian MNCs do this. Work ethics is only for the jr and middle mgmt….Top is free and doesn’t require any ethics….The philosophy is preach only…..As Mr Narayan Murthy said Love your work and not the organization. keep adding value to your self all these company sucks
Aman June 15, 2015 at 8:59 am
I worked in TCS for 5+ years before resigning in May for Health reasons. Like others I was kind of hoping I would receive the very much marketed One time Bonus since I was an employee of TCS till May second week. But nasty surprise from TCS. My 5 years in TCS not withstanding, I should also have a “intention” to continue as well . TCS had announced on media April 16, 2015 that all active employees as on April 16 would get the One-time bonus the same like Variable pay . I know that alot of ex-employees’s may be even more than 2K, are in the same place as me. I just feel sorry that I had worked for TCS.
Prabjot Kumar August 29, 2015 at 11:18 pm
As per my experience in TCS,all mid level managers and RMG should be immediately laid off. These guys are nothing but termites and in all their service they did nothing but harmed the organisation in every possible way they could. In early years by not doing coding but gossiping with their managers and spreading rumours about hard working employess. When they became managers they stiffled every talent and promoted every enunchs to secure their futures.
However just like western politics, they(top management) want the terrorists to be dead and at the same time keep the terror diplomacy alive!!
It is certainly pitiable that the company which is shaping the global companies processes has no interest in creating a process to manage itself. What on earth is stopping them to automate their employee performance tracking process and eliminate any discrepancies. Is it that hard to formulate KPIs on this or they are(top management) promoting that by themselves. As I said hunting down one terror outfit and at the same time creating another outfit won’t work.
But at the crux, these middle management is the first one who never resisted the unetical practices but exploited the talents to the maximum and promoted the evil. The top management cannot be blamed as this was the mid level management who practices the unethical commandments.
Only 1 out 12 managers, I would say was deserving. Rest 11 were/are pure junks. If TCS is really serious about getting rid of these fungus they need to promote fair assesment process and should fire every mid level managers on genuine complains related harassments, unfair practice of policies, women harassment etc.
As per my verdict HRs, mid level managers and RMGs are purely burden on the organisation and in fact no other companies should accomodate these fungus as they will spread only diseases not any value.
Mahesh December 23, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Spoken to HR Manager of TCS , as per him u all r coolies , TCS will use u till ur service required . After that like cooli u r paid off.
Unknown March 27, 2016 at 10:20 am
I am a fresher. I was selected by codevita ( Tcs Coding Competition). Then i thought i will get coding in tcs projects. But randomly they put me in Admin role. Now I realize that i am not suitable for this admin role and for that i want release but they are not giving me. What to do I could not understand. If this type of incidents are going on i think tcs will loose its reputation.They are forcefully tagged me to this project that i did not want. The managers are not friendly they always try to scold me and now i am totally depressed and frustrated. Being a fresher its very difficult to apply for new job.
TCSer June 10, 2016 at 8:21 pm
Nerver Ever join TCS. Worst company to work for.
Anonymous July 4, 2016 at 9:17 pm
I am getting job in TCS as senior syatem manager through a consultancy. So as a fresher will i be able to adopt for this role or there is a chance that they will fire me in a month or two. I have completed B.Tech in computer science.
firstpostcommenter November 15, 2016 at 1:09 pm
TCS webmail really sucks….it can be inaccessible many times when accessing through browser
Since we will not have Desktop client at Home/Onsite etc, this is really a big problem…how does TCS expect employees to be productive with such a shitty webmail
Prasad December 12, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Dont go near this company. Senior management sucks. Least bothered about associate career. They deal with numbers only. People are dumped by whims of the top guys.