Infosys to soon make work-from-office mandatory for 3 days per week: Report

India’s second-largest IT services provider, Infosys, is set to make three-day work-from-office mandatory for its employees.

The decision comes in the wake of management’s unsuccessful attempts to encourage a return to the normal office routine, reported The Economic Times quoting sources.

It also follows Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy’s recent appeal for a 70-hour work week to enhance productivity.

‘Will become mandatory shortly’

According to the ET report, Infosys vertical heads have emailed employees, asking them to start coming to office at least three days a week. “It will become mandatory very shortly,” as per the email quoted in the report. Infosys has not yet issued a formal response to the reported development.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the limited return-to-office compliance, the email from the vertical heads highlighted that the three-year work-from-home arrangement following the Covid-19 pandemic had been sufficient.

The directive further stated that, except for medical reasons, employees must commence working from the office.

It may be noted that Infosys has recently asked lower-level employees to return to the office for a minimum of ten days each month.

Infosys management unhappy

The Bengaluru-based software company’s management has reportedly been unhappy with some delivery units being consistently empty, prompting the call for immediate attendance at campuses housing offshore development centers (ODCs) for clients.

However, Infosys is open to considering health-related exceptions on a case-by-case basis, added the ET report.

Not just Infosys, but several other IT companies have also asked employees to start reporting to office.

Recently, Wipro warned its employees of consequences for repeatedly defying its hybrid work policy – reporting to office for three days a week – effective January 7. Tata Consultancy Services, India’s largest software services firm, has also been transitioning toward a more traditional office routine.

Before the pandemic-induced lockdown in early 2020, eligible Infosys employees had the option of working from home for nine days a month. If the new rule is enforced, it will bring back the pre-pandemic attendance system, added the ET report.

The move by Infosys reflects a broader trend in the IT sector, where companies are emphasising the importance of in-person presence in office to boost efficiency amid slowing growth and reduced headcount.

Concerns about data security and employee moonlighting have been raised since the widespread adoption of work-from-home norms during the pandemic.