IT professionals in Kerala left in the lurch after TCS allegedly delays joining date

When Ajay (name changed), a 29-year old software engineer based in Kochi, got an offer from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) around three months ago, he did not have to think twice about quitting his existing job. Having gained an experience of over five years in the IT sector in two different companies, he put in his papers at the company after TCS gave him a joining date in early July. However, over the past month, he has been frantically calling the recruiters as his new employee indefinitely postponed his joining without any clear reason.

“I quit my existing job as I expected a major company such as TCS to honour its offer letter. But now I, and quite a few others like me, have been left in the lurch without any clue on when we will be able to join the company. We all have loans and EMIs, which we are unable to pay without a steady pay. In my case, as I am the only earning member, my entire family is dependent on my salary. If the company had told us clearly that there would be a delay when they gave us the offer, we would have planned accordingly. When I contacted the recruiters, they said they are helpless as everything depends on the higher authorities giving a clearance,” Ajay tells The Hindu.

Reeja (name changed), who has been working in a software company in Kochi for the past four-and-a-half years, is facing a similar plight. After she received an offer letter from TCS three months ago, she resigned from her existing job to complete the notice period in time for the TCS joining date. However, the recruiters have been telling her that there would be a delay because the background verification is ongoing.

According to Prathidhwani, a welfare organisation of IT employees in Kerala, several IT professionals from the State who had received official offer letters and confirmed joining dates from TCS have experienced abrupt and indefinite onboarding delays. Many of these professionals who had already resigned from their previous employment, served full notice periods, and planned their careers as per the company’s offer, have been left in the lurch.

Union Ministers’ intervention sought

The employees’ collective has now approached Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya seeking their intervention in the issue.

As per a letter sent by Prathidhwani State convener Rajeev Krishnan to the Ministers, the software professionals were notified of the postponements, in many cases by two–three months, and in some cases, with no further clarity on the revised schedule, just days before or even on the confirmed joining date. This has left them without jobs, income, or insurance, placing them and their families under immense financial and psychological stress.

The collective has requested the Ministers to issue necessary guidelines to ensure responsible and transparent hiring in the IT industry, especially for lateral hires and experienced professionals as well as mandate accountability mechanisms for companies issuing formal offers with joining dates.

TCS response

When contacted, TCS, in an official statement, said that everyone who has received an offer will be onboarded.

“We can confirm that, as always, TCS is committed to honouring all offers we have made, whether it is to freshers or experienced professionals. Everyone who has received an offer from TCS, will be onboarded. The joining dates are decided as per business demand and, in some cases, these do get adjusted to meet our business needs. We remain in continuous touch with all candidates in these cases and look forward to them joining our company soon,” said the statement.