TCS Faces Employee Backlash as New 35-Day Bench Policy Creates Anxiety

Tata Consultancy Services has wrapped up its first cycle under a revamped 35-day bench policy, putting thousands of its employees under stress. Introduced on June 12, the policy limits the duration an employee can remain unallocated in a year, fuelling conversations around job security and workforce reshuffling across the IT sector.

New Bench Policy Raises Concerns Across Workforce

The 35-day bench rule means employees without an active project beyond this period risk stagnation or possible termination. Many have taken to online forums, citing pressure to join roles misaligned with their skills, frequent client interview rejections, and location mismatches. 

TCS’ Resource Management Group (RMG) is reportedly pushing rapid placement, creating stress among those newly hired or recently trained in different skill sets.

Impact on Freshers and Career Flexibility

Fresh graduates, who recently completed training, are feeling the heat. Many claim they are being asked to accept roles unrelated to their expertise, such as moving from Java training to unrelated tech support tasks. The time allowed to find relevant projects feels inadequate, affecting morale and career trajectory.

Read More: TCS Pays Full Q1 Variable to 70% Employees Amid Macro Challenges!

Industry Shifts and Utilisation Focus

India's IT sector is witnessing tighter enforcement on deployability amid rising costs. TCS' workforce of 6,13,000 includes up to 18% typically benched. With AI boosting productivity, especially in repetitive roles, redeploying freshers has become challenging. Companies are focusing on aligning talent with client demands, not individual preferences.

Employee Sentiment and NITES Complaint

The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has flagged the policy as “inhumane” in a letter to the Union Labour Ministry, describing the pressure tactics as exploitative. The body demands immediate redressal, citing psychological stress on affected employees. However, some suggest the policy targets long-benched employees who refuse projects.

Tata Consultancy Services Share Price Performance

On July 17, 2025, Tata Consultancy Services share price opened at ₹3,224.10 on NSE, below the previous close of ₹3,233.10. During the day, it surged to ₹3,235.00 and dipped to ₹3,224.10. The stock is trading at ₹3,229.50 as of 9:16 AM. The stock registered a marginal change of -0.11%.

Over the past week, it has declined by 0.78%, over the past month, it has declined by 5.36%, and over the past 3 months, it has declined by 0.90%.

Conclusion

TCS's bench policy signals a larger industry drive toward enhanced workforce utilisation and skill-based deployment. While aimed at improving margins amid demand slowdowns, it has led to mounting anxiety among employees, especially those early in their careers or amid reskilling. The policy's impact may echo across the broader IT sector.

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