TCS Tightens WFO Policy: Appraisals Put on Hold

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has reinforced its work-from-office (WFO) policy, with some employees seeing their final anniversary appraisals on hold due to non-compliance with attendance rules in earlier quarters. This move underscores TCS’s push for full-time office presence, even as many IT firms continue hybrid models.

The decision affects employees who missed WFO requirements during specific quarters of FY26. While operational-level appraisals may have been completed, corporate approval has been withheld, effectively freezing performance outcomes. TCS had already discontinued anniversary appraisals for lateral hires in 2022, making this particularly relevant for fresher cohorts.

Internal communications indicate that non-compliance up to Q2 (July–September 2025) could block appraisal processing. Continued non-compliance in subsequent quarters may even exclude employees from the FY26 banding cycle, meaning no performance band for the year. Normally, anniversary appraisals involve goal-setting, manager review, and banding declaration. Under the new enforcement, attendance compliance has become a gatekeeper for this cycle.

TCS requires employees to work five days a week in-office, linking performance outcomes and variable pay to attendance. The WFO exception framework allows up to six personal emergency days per quarter, 30 operational exceptions, and five network-related entries, with no carry-forward. Bulk uploads or backend adjustments are not allowed, closing potential loopholes.