WFH: Pune IT Employees Urge Govt to Mandate Work From Home Amid Rain-Induced Traffic Chaos in Hinjawadi
Hinjawadi, 21st May 2025: As persistent rainfall continues to choke Pune’s bustling IT hub of Hinjawadi, calls for immediate administrative action are growing louder. The Forum for IT Employees (FITE) has appealed to the Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, to enforce mandatory work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for tech professionals until weather conditions improve.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), FITE shared disturbing visuals of vehicles stuck in long queues and inundated roads. Their message to the state government was direct: “If you guys have any care of IT employees then plz declare mandatory work from home for Hinjawadi IT park till rains are over & during rainy seasons.”
The appeal has struck a chord with many professionals and residents who are grappling with the city’s inadequate infrastructure. Several social media users echoed the sentiment, pointing to the daily ordeal of commuting through flooded and traffic-clogged roads.
“Expecting quality output from employees after spending hours in waterlogged traffic is unrealistic. Companies need to acknowledge this and allow WFH until the rains subside,” wrote one user on X.
Others highlighted the apparent double standards in corporate policies, especially after the widespread success of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the pandemic, companies made record profits with remote work. Now, the same firms treat WFH like it’s a punishment. Some are even using surveillance apps to track employee productivity, linking it to salaries and ratings,” a user criticized.
Abhijit Redkar tweeted, “Companies should declare WFH till rainy season is over. Employee drianed in traffic can’t deliver quality service work to client. Asking this facility in the interest of client because IT companies anyway doesn’t care much for interest of employees commute problems.”
Sunil More added, “You should get the MP’s/MLA’s stuck in such traffic jam on a rainy day, then they will realize what perks they enjoy driving in a convoy led by a pilot car honking siren.”
The demand for remote working is not just a matter of convenience, many argued, but a necessity for safety and productivity. With heavy rainfall already damaging vehicles and uprooting trees in parts of the city, commuters fear the risks are only going to increase.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted intensified rainfall and gusty winds in parts of Maharashtra, including Pune, between May 21 and 24, due to a developing cyclonic system over the east-central Arabian Sea. The downpour is expected to pick up further from May 22 onwards.
As monsoon-related disruptions become more frequent, especially in tech corridors like Hinjawadi, employees and local advocacy groups are urging both the government and private companies to prioritize flexible work policies — not just as a temporary fix but as a long-term strategy to tackle Pune’s infrastructural strain during extreme weather.
