Over 600 experienced professionals, having resigned from previous jobs based on confirmed offers, have been left in uncertainty after Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) indefinitely delayed their onboarding, according to the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) and multiple news reports.
Promises Broken, Lives Disrupted
Candidates aged between two and eighteen years of experience, across cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi, reported being turned away at TCS premises on scheduled joining dates. Security guards informed them their names were not on official lists, and TCS provided no updated timeline or communication, leaving many facing financial hardship and emotional distress.
NITES’s presidential spokesperson and Bombay HC advocate Harpreet Singh Saluja described the situation as a “criminal breach of trust.” He said professionals are now struggling with unpaid EMIs, rent, and family expenses, with no access to TCS’s HR or support systems. “Desperate calls and emails… professionals who feel abandoned and deceived” are coming in daily.
Corporate Response and Call for Action
In response, TCS stated it remains “committed to honour all offers” and that joining dates may be adjusted based on business demand, adding they are in continuous communication with the affected individuals. However, NITES has written to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, urging that TCS be instructed to provide time-bound assurances, financial compensation, mental health support via its Employee Assistance Program, and possible alternate placements for those impacted.
This incident represents a growing crisis in India’s tech recruitment environment, particularly for lateral hires, veteran professionals who leave secure roles expecting seamless transitions. Industry experts warn that indefinite delays could set a troubling precedent, risking reputational damage for large employers like TCS and affecting the broader tech job market.