The union has sought an investigation into the matter to ensure Infosys fulfills its obligations to the new hires. They have demanded that the affected professionals be given full salary payments for the period during which onboarding has been delayed and immediate access to Infosys' employee assistance programme to address the mental and emotional strain caused by the delay.
If onboarding remains unfeasible, NITES insists that Infosys must actively work with the recruits to find alternative employment opportunities within the organisation. The situation has brought financial hardship and uncertainty due to the lack of income and a clear onboarding timeline for the recruits.
As of yet, Infosys has not commented on this complaint by NITES.
In the past, Indian IT services companies Infosys, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, Mphasis, along with international companies like Accenture, Capgemini, Deloitte, and others have delayed onboarding of new recruits by over a year.
The delay in onboarding at Infosys and other IT companies is often a result of fluctuations in business demand. Infosys has responded to awaiting job claimants, stating that they allocate joining dates based on their business requirements.
When business demand is uncertain or there are changes in project timelines, it can impact the onboarding process. Companies may need to adjust their hiring plans accordingly. The subdued macro environment, especially in the IT sector's mainstay business areas like banking and financial services, has led to softness in IT budgets and discretionary spending. These factors can cause delays in decision-making cycles, affecting the finalization of joining dates for new hires.
Coordinating the onboarding process for a large number of campus recruits involves logistical challenges. This includes arranging training, documentation, and infrastructure. Administrative processes such as background checks, paperwork, and approvals can also contribute to delays. Effective communication between HR, recruitment teams, and the recruits is crucial. Any gaps in communication can lead to misunderstandings or delays.
In the case of Infosys, the delays have persisted for more than two years, affecting over 2,000 campus recruits. The affected professionals have faced financial hardship and uncertainty due to the lack of income and a clear onboarding timeline.
Infosys, however, has not yet responded to the complaint. The company has experienced a decline in headcount for the first time in over 20 years, with a reduction of 25,994 employees at the end of the 2023-24 financial year. They have adjusted their campus hiring plans, adopting an agile model with 50% of hires coming from campuses and the remaining from off-campus recruitment. Infosys has already skipped campus placements for four quarters.
The prolonged delay has disrupted the plans of these recruits, and NITES urges Infosys to swiftly resolve the issue by providing definite joining dates and appropriate assistance.
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