Hybrid or WFO, rising coronavirus cases haven't disturbed India Inc

Alert to Covid situation, companies across sectors are continuing with existing work models for now

The rise in Covid cases has put India Inc on guard once again, but it is not pressing the panic button yet. Companies across sectors are, instead, continuing with their current work model – whether it’s hybrid or work from office (WFO). For instance, most firms in the services space were working in hybrid mode and that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. 

The Indian IT services sector has, however, hit the pause button on its plans to bring millions of its employees back on campuses. 

Companies that Business Standard spoke with acknowledged that the pace of getting employees back to office has slowed down and there is a reluctance among them to return with the rise in Covid cases. With safety systems in place, the firms are, however, encouraging employees to return.

While India’s largest IT services provider, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), did not confirm whether its plans to get employees back to office are in the slow lane now, it said in a statement: “We remain committed to adopting our futuristic and path-breaking 25x25 model. This model will require no more than 25 per cent of our associates to work from an office at any given point in time, and they need not spend more than 25 per cent of their time in the office.”

That said, the company noted that an important part of the journey to the 25x25 model was to first bring people back to physical offices and gradually transition into the hybrid work model. “We believe that innovation thrives in an environment of collaboration and there is more to work than a desk and a laptop,” TCS said in a statement.

In most IT services firms that are following the hybrid model, the senior management and team leaders are now in office at least thrice a week.

Wipro has adopted a flexible, hybrid approach in its return-to-office policy. “Since April 4, fully vaccinated employees have been voluntarily returning to office thrice a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” the company said. It added that it adheres strictly to local directives and ensures all safety measures are in place.

At HCL Technologies, there is no mandate for employees to be back in office and if at all, it’s need-based.

In Chennai, employees of IT majors said their firms are encouraging people to come to the office two to four days a week. “Around 30-35 per cent of companies in Chennai are following a hybrid model. Others are also adopting it, depending on the Covid situation,” said Suresh Krishnamurthy, president, Hindustan Chamber of Commerce, and chief executive officer of India Cements Capital.

 

Professional services firm Deloitte India has been in hybrid mode since the first week of March once Omicron cases started tapering. The plan is to carry on with this for now.

“Since the launch of hybrid, colleagues come into office only on the days prescribed by their team's requirements and book seats on an internal app. This is our preferred mode of working for now,” SV Nathan, partner and chief talent officer, Deloitte India, said. 

Diversified conglomerate ITC, too, intends to continue with a hybrid model. “While we have opened up our offices across locations, we continue to operate with a hybrid model with employees having the flexibility to work from home for up to two days in a week, with prior approval,” Amitav Mukherji, head of Corporate Human Resources, ITC, said. “In case of extenuating circumstances (personal exigencies) employees may apply to work from home for a longer duration.” Chennai-headquartered TVS Motor Company is also staying with the hybrid model it started late last year.

However, for steel companies – JSW Steel, Jindal Steel & Power and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) – which had mostly gone back to working from office, it's business as usual with normal office attendance. 

“We are strictly monitoring the situation and requesting employees to wear a mask as much as possible but it’s not mandatory,” said an AM/NS India official.

WFO booster

The confidence to continue with work from office or in a hybrid mode, rather than return to work from home, is perhaps because most employees are now vaccinated and companies are also facilitating the third precautionary dose.

Those coming into office are required to be double vaccinated (this is synced with their access cards), and now the cost of the third dose is also being reimbursed, said Nathan of Deloitte.

ITC is supporting employees and their families with the booster dose through partnerships with health care providers. “Vaccination camps have been held at our premises or in partnership with private medical centres," said Mukherji.

At AM/NS India and JSW Steel, most employees have already got the booster dose. JSPL, too, has organised two camps for the precautionary dose and more will follow.

Who’s doing what

TCS: Will first bring employees back to offices and then transition to 25x25 model: with 25% working from office at a time and spending more than 25% of their time in office

HCL Technologies: No mandate for employees to be back in office; if at all, it’s need-based

Wipro: Flexible, hybrid approach in return-to-office policy. Firm says since April 4, its fully vaccinated employees have been voluntarily returning to work thrice a week

Deloitte India: Employees come to office on prescribed days 

ITC: Offices across locations open; employees can work from home for up to two days a week after approval

JSW Steel, Jindal Steel & Power, AM/NS India: Working from office

TVS Motor Company: Continuing with hybrid model