Mass layoffs at Infosys left the trainees emotional and stranded as they were asked to leave the premises in Mysore by 6 PM after failing to clear mandatory internal assessments.
Approximately 400 trainees were terminated from the Infosys campus in Mysore after failing the mandatory internal assessment and asked to leave the campus before 6 PM. This mass termination affected employees who had waited two and a half years to join the company after receiving their offer letters in 2022.
On February 7, these terminations were laid out systematically, with groups of 50 trainees called in with their laptops at 9:30 AM. Even security bouncers were present during the proceedings, according to sources.
The Terminated Trainees
The laid-off employees were freshers who were waiting for their jobs since 2022, went through the internal assessment, and were asked to leave the premises of the company. This took a lot of emotional toll on the dismissed employees.
When an employee asked for an extension in stay saying,’’ Please allow me to stay at night. I will leave tomorrow. Where will I go right now?’’ instead management replied by saying that they don’t know anything, as the employees are no longer part of the company, they must leave the campus by 6 PM.
An anonymous terminated trainee said to MoneyControl, “This is cruelty, it is a big company, trainees fear speaking the truth.”
Company’s Defense
The company gave a statement to PTI defending its policy by saying that it has been mentioned in trainees’ contracts and has been going on for almost decades, further, the statement read, “All freshers get three attempts to clear the assessment, failing which they will not be able to continue with the organization.”
Upcoming Issues
After receiving criticism regarding the dismissal of trainees, Infosys organized a third assessment for an additional 450 trainees on February 14. The evaluation criteria have been modified, increasing the passing threshold from 50% to 65%. Furthermore, the training syllabus has been expanded, requiring trainees to complete approximately 200 hours of study, along with a recommended daily study commitment of 8 hours, according to critics.
NITES Compliant
The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has criticized this policy of Infosys and filed a complaint against the organization, calling it ‘corporate exploitation’ and ‘unethical, illegal, and a violation of labor laws.’ The complaint included issues of the employees at the Mysore campus reportedly being gathered in meeting rooms, where they faced pressure to conform to a decision made by the company. There have been claims of intimidating measures being implemented, such as the presence of security staff, to facilitate this compliance.
Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES raised his voice against Infosys by saying, “This blatant corporate exploitation cannot be allowed to continue, and we urge the government to take swift action to uphold the rights and dignity of Indian IT workers.”
NITES also urged the government of Karnataka to intervene in the matter to protect the rights of the employees.
Haripriya Mishra is a journalist deeply interested in world news and geopolitics. She likes to explore the complexities of global affairs and strives to bring clarity to these issues through thoughtful journalism. Through her writing, she intends to raise the right questions, fostering informed discussions about national and international matters. Haripriya aims to use journalism as a platform to connect with people, share diverse perspectives, and contribute to a deeper understanding of global issues. She is committed to producing content that is accurate, ethical, and impactful. She enjoys creative writing and reflecting on the nuances of media and storytelling.
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