“Trapped and Pressured to Resign”: Infosys Employees Speak Out on Sudden Termination
Reported by Sneha Bhagat
Pune, 26th February 2025: The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has filed a formal complaint with the labor ministry, alleging that the mass termination of trainees by Infosys is illegal, unethical, and in violation of labor laws.
On February 7, Infosys reportedly forced around 700 trainees—who had been hired 2.5 years ago but onboarded only last October—to resign after just four months of employment. According to NITES, employees were taken to a room under tight security, with guards and bouncers stationed outside. They were allegedly denied access to the internet, social media, washrooms, and even elevators, making them feel trapped and compelled to sign their termination letters. The employees were instructed to vacate the premises immediately, with no prior notice, and had to make last-minute arrangements to leave before 5 PM the same day.
These trainees had faced repeated delays in their onboarding, being told to wait as their appointment depended on business requirements. After months of waiting and clearing multiple assessments, they were suddenly terminated under intense pressure, leaving many distressed and anxious.
NITES has demanded the reinstatement of all terminated employees, along with fair compensation. The affected employees were given a severance amount of ₹21,000, which varied among individuals and was deemed unsatisfactory. Meanwhile, Infosys has maintained that only 350 employees were affected, describing the terminations as a “mutual separation” and citing failure to clear three attempts of an internal assessment after undergoing foundational training at the Mysore campus.
In a letter to Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja stated: “It has come to our attention, through numerous complaints from affected employees, that Infosys Ltd. has forcefully terminated employees in violation of labor laws.”
NITES has urged the ministry to take strict action against Infosys for violating the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and called for an immediate investigation, along with a restraining order to prevent further terminations until due legal process is followed.
Infosys, in a statement to the Economic Times, said: “All freshers get three attempts to clear the assessment, failing which they cannot continue with the organization, as stated in their contract. This process has been in place for over two decades to ensure high-quality talent for our clients.”
However, affected employees have countered these claims, alleging that the exam pattern was changed multiple times without prior notice and that assurances given during induction—such as grace marks and medical exemptions—were not honored.
Several employees shared their distressing experiences. One employee stated that no leniency was shown, and they were not even given an extra day to arrange travel back home. A deduction of ₹3,500 from their compensation for campus stay further worsened their situation, especially with high last-minute travel fares.
A female employee claimed she was denied her third attempt due to a medical condition, despite being assured during induction that such cases would be considered. She reportedly pleaded for another chance but was forced to sign the termination while being unwell and denied access to an elevator.
Employees have also alleged that the difficulty level of assessments, particularly in Java and DBMS, was significantly higher than in previous years, with grace marks being invalidated. They believe the terminations were pre-planned and that even those who met job expectations were dismissed.
While Infosys continues to defend its actions as a standard evaluation process, affected employees have united to challenge what they call an unjust and humiliating mass layoff. NITES has vowed to fight for their rights and dignity.
