End of remote work era as tech companies make WFO mandatory

Top IT firms like TCS, Infosys and Wipro gradually calling back their employees to office

- UMA KANNAN

DURING the pandemic, work from home (WFH) had become the norm and when Covid restrictions eased over the years, IT companies and start-ups have been brainstorming on the hybrid model and how it can increase employees' productivity.

Now, companies are making it mandatory for employees to work from office (WFO), signalling the end of the remote working era.

After working from home for nearly four years, the majority of Infosys employees will now return to office from November 20 and work thrice a week from office. Last month, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) made it mandatory for its employees to WFO for all five days in a week. The company believes that employees need to come to work so that the new workforce gets integrated with the large workforce of the company.

Since May, Wipro has been encouraging its employees to work from the office any three days of their choice in a week.

Nearly 55% of its employees come to the office three days a week. "We have adopted a flexible approach in our policies, keeping the requirements of our clients and employees as our foremost priority. Collaboration and innovation through shared perspectives is the foundation of a high-performing culture," Wipro told this newspaper in a statement. HCLTech too has asked its employees to WFO thrice a week.