FITE alleges TCS used internal exams to pressure employees to resign

Tata Consultancy Services is facing rising scrutiny after allegations that internal assessments are being used to pressure employees into resigning rather than evaluate their skills. The claims were brought to public attention by the Forum For IT Employees (FITE), which posted multiple accounts from workers on X.

According to FITE, staff across experience levels have reported being asked to leave the company following opaque internal exams. The group said even employees with around two years of tenure had been forced to resign, signalling a shift from earlier concerns that typically involved long-serving staff. One case highlighted involved a woman who, after being denied alimony on the basis of her TCS job, was subsequently terminated, leaving her without income.

FITE has demanded greater transparency from the company, calling on TCS to share exam papers and scores with affected employees. The forum criticised the reported pass mark of 70–80 per cent, arguing that workers should be able to understand how they were assessed when their livelihood depends on the outcome. “When an exam decides someone’s livelihood, employees have the right to see where they went wrong,” the group said.

The matter has also been escalated to state authorities. Maharashtra Labour Minister Akash Fundkar has been urged to investigate the allegations, with FITE tagging him, the Chief Minister’s Office, the state Labour Ministry and the Maharashtra Mahila Ayog in its posts. The organisation said the government must prioritise the protection of IT employees amid concerns over unfair labour practices.

The episode has rekindled debate about the absence of strong labour protections in India’s IT sector. Several users on X argued that weak safeguards leave workers vulnerable to sudden exits. One commenter said IT firms “hire and fire at will”, adding that similar actions would draw regulatory pushback in other countries. Another criticised long notice periods, arguing that if companies can dismiss employees immediately, workers should not be bound to three months’ notice.

The controversy comes as India continues to debate labour reforms that could reshape employment conditions in the technology sector. A recent report on labour reforms, widely cited in the business press, said regulatory changes could create millions of new jobs, though unions warn that existing gaps in worker protection remain substantial.

FITE has said it will continue to press for transparent assessments and protections against forced resignations. The group has called on both TCS and the Maharashtra government to respond swiftly, warning that unresolved concerns could deepen mistrust in one of India’s largest private-sector employers.