Largest Indian IT firm aims to lift output as sector headwinds grow
In a move that has set tongues wagging across the IT world, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Indias biggest tech services house, has unveiled a fresh associate-deployment rule designed to squeeze the most out of its people. Starting June 12, 2025, the guideline insists that every staffer be billed for at least 225 working days each year, slashing bench time-the stretch when no client work is assigned-to only 35 days annually.
Understanding the TCS New Bench Policy
TCSs fresh bench rule, explained by Chandrasekaran Ramkumar, who heads the Resource Management Group, calls on team members to take the lead in chasing project slots. Times of India quoted the policy note saying, at any moment associates must spend at least 225 business days in the past twelve months on assignment. Effectively, that caps staff at roughly thirty-five unpaid working days a year. Miss the target, and pay, promotion, chances to work abroad, and in some cases even the job itself could be at risk.
In IT services, bench time is the stretch when a staffer is still on salary but not lining up tasks for a client. During those hours, people sit on the bench waiting for the next call. Billing days are the ones where hands are on keyboards, invoices are rolling, and the firm earns. By shrinking bench time, TCS hopes to lift billing hours, a key driver of better profits and fuller utilization.
Structured Downtime for Unallocated Associates
Bench time for unallocated associates is now run like a schedule. Every day they need to set aside four to six hours sharpening skills on TCS learning tools-iEvolve, Fresco Play, VLS and LinkedIn. They also have to finish assigned modules and work with the Gen AI interview coach so they are ready when a new role appears. This push for nonstop learning keeps people sharp and able to pivot in an industry that changes fast.
On top of that, the office is now the default place to work, with flexible arrangements granted only in real emergencies. The move shows TCS wants a team atmosphere and staff who are easy to reach when a project starts. It also clamps down on the back-and-forth of short, spur-of-the-moment allocations that scatter focus and slow progress. Associates who fall into that habit may find HR asking questions, a clear message that the company values steady, uninterrupted project teams.
Why is TCS Rolling Out the New Bench Policy Now?
TCS is rolling out its fresh bench policy at a crossroads moment for the IT world, a sector still grappling with shaky macroeconomic headwinds. NDTV Profit notes that growth has flat-lined, pushing firms to squeeze every hour from their talent. Shortening bench time and boosting billable hours are, therefore, quick fixes to shore up profits when new deals are slow to arrive. The policy memo bluntly states that staying unallocated too long can dent pay, stall promotions, block future overseas roles, and question job security, so the stakes are high.
How Will This Impact TCS Employees?
For TCS employees, the new approach will reshape daily work life starting almost immediately. On one side, the constant push to stay billable could ratchet up stress and tip a fragile work-life balance. Staff may feel they must jump on any project, whether it matches their goals or skill set, just to hit those numbers. Over time, that scramble can erode satisfaction and plain well-being.
On the bright side, the focus on learning during bench hours gives staff a chance to polish old skills or pick up fresh ones. Spending downtime on online courses or industry webinars can boost their CV and, in turn, open doors to more interesting projects or even new employers. If handled well, that steady pipeline of new knowledge leaves the firm with a sharper, quicker team and reduces the long serious of scramble hiring whenever a new contract lands.
Industry-Wide Implications
Because Tata Consultancy Services still stands at the front of Indias tech parade, latest rules there usually ripple through the rest of the sector. Observers now worry the bench plan might push rival firms to tighten billable hours and track every minute, driving a tougher approach to resource management. Livemint points out the goal is to review output regularly and spot gaps early, a promise some welcome while others see it as a big brother system that threatens peace of mind and private time.
Placing most work back in the office and pairing it with a clear upskilling plan echoes a wider push to balance freedom with responsibility in tech. If TCS proves the model cuts costs without losing talent, expect copycat policies elsewhere, and that, finally, would reshape what nine-to-five life looks like for millions of IT workers.
Looking Ahead
TCSs brand-new bench policy is a daring move aimed at using people and projects more smartly and lifting efficiency in an increasingly cut-throat i