Infosys detains trainees again, offers training in alternative career path, travel & accommodation support

On March 26, IT giant Infosys terminated another 30-45 trainees from its Mysuru campus after they reportedly failed to clear the assessment test.

This move follows a similar decision made just two months ago, when the company let go of over 350 employees who had been onboarded two-and-a-half years after being hired.

Emails sent to the trainees stated, "Further to the announcement of the results of your final assessment attempt, we regret to inform you that you have not met the qualifying criteria in the 'Foundation Skills Training Program,' despite the additional preparation time, doubt-clearing sessions, and multiple mock assessment opportunities."

However, according to a Moneycontrol report, the company has offered to provide training for roles in Infosys Business Process Management (BPM) to those who are interested.

In addition to the relieving letter, Infosys has assured the affected trainees of a one-month ex-gratia payment.

For those unwilling to pursue the BPM program, the company has asked them to submit their travel and accommodation preferences by March 27.

In light of the backlash faced for asking employees to leave the campus immediately, Infosys has offered accommodation at the Employee Care Centre in Mysuru until their departure. The company has also offered to arrange transport from Mysuru to Bengaluru and provided a standard travel allowance for the trainees to reach their hometown.

With an employee count of over 3.17 lakh as of the financial year 2024, Infosys is the second-largest IT company in India after TCS.

Earlier this year, when Infosys let go of more than 350 employees in February, the company drew significant criticism for the way it handled the process. Videos of young trainees, who had been onboarded two-and-a-half years after passing the interview, quickly went viral on social media. With the company instructing them to leave the premises immediately, trainees struggled to find transportation from the campus to Bengaluru or the city centre.

However, on February 27, the Karnataka Labour Department cleared Infosys of any labour law violations related to the trainee layoffs, based on documentary evidence collected.

Infosys has been in the news for several controversies recently. In addition to the criticism over the layoffs, remarks made by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy regarding the need to work 70 hours a week sparked a wider debate about work-life balance.