Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, has been in the spotlight after confirming that over 12,000 employees were let go in August. However, social media buzz and anecdotal accounts suggest the number of exits could be significantly higher.
On X (formerly Twitter), a user named Soham Sarkar claimed, citing his college friend with 15 years at TCS, that nearly 80,000 employees were asked to resign. While some reportedly received up to 18 months of severance, others were allegedly let go without compensation. Several other users also shared similar stories of sudden layoffs and forced retirements.
One user wrote, “One of my managers was forced to take VRS after more than 25 years with TCS. My neighbour was laid off after being there for 20 years. Ex-managers say they keep receiving fluidity lists every week.”
Despite the claims, a TCS spokesperson has strongly dismissed the rumours, calling reports of 80,000 job cuts “incorrect” and “misleading.”
Impact on Employees
Reports suggest that many employees are facing an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. A 35-year-old former employee, identified as Rohan (name changed), told Moneycontrol that he was compelled to resign after months of alleged pressure from HR and the Resource Management Group (RMG). After 13 years at the company, he now remains unemployed and has not revealed his situation to his family.
Wider Industry Context
The turbulence is not limited to TCS. Global IT giant Accenture has also reportedly laid off around 11,000 employees in the past three months as companies worldwide restructure amid the rapid adoption of generative AI.
While layoffs continue to dominate headlines, tech leaders argue that generative AI will also create new opportunities. Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, recently urged young professionals to focus on learning AI technologies instead of spending hours scrolling through social media, highlighting that India’s strong computer science talent base is well-positioned for the shift.