TCS Tightens Bench Rules: 35 Days, Then You’re Out!
Muthangi Anil Kumar
In a bold shift aimed at increasing productivity and workforce efficiency, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)—India’s largest IT services firm—has introduced a strict new policy that’s already sending ripples across the tech landscape. Under the new rule, employees on the bench (unassigned to billable projects) now have just 35 days to find deployment—or face potential exit or reassignment procedures.
This move is part of a broader operational overhaul that also mandates a minimum of 225 billing days per year for delivery employees, signaling a renewed focus on performance metrics and billability.
What’s Changing?
#TCS introduced a new policy on June 12, 2025. Employees now need to be billed for at least 225 days a year, meaning they must be actively working on projects most of the time. They can only be on the bench (without a project) for up to 35 days in a year.
Historically, IT companies have maintained a bench pool—a buffer of skilled employees between projects. But in today’s hyper-competitive and cost-sensitive IT market, idle resources translate directly into loss.
With the new policy, TCS has:
Capped bench time at 35 calendar days
Set 225 days as the minimum annual billability quota
Enabled tracking mechanisms through internal HR platforms to flag underutilized resources
Empowered senior delivery managers to take quick action on prolonged bench cases
An internal memo reviewed by this journalist describes the changes as “strategic measures to maximize client delivery outcomes while supporting a high-performance culture.”
What It Means for Employees
The move comes at a critical time for the tech industry. As global clients reduce discretionary spending and delay onboarding for large-scale projects, many tech professionals find themselves between deployments for longer periods. Under the new TCS policy, however, lingering on the bench for over 35 days triggers alerts to higher management, who may recommend upskilling, internal transfers—or eventual separation from the company.
An employee from the Bengaluru office, who requested anonymity, said,
“Earlier, we could wait 2–3 months between projects. Now, we’re constantly under pressure to either find deployment or prove we’re upgrading our skills. It’s intense.”
In response, TCS has ramped up access to learning modules, certification programs, and internal gig platforms to help employees get redeployed faster.
Industry-Wide Implications
This policy signals a broader industry shift. IT giants across India are struggling with bench cost optimization, and automation is further compressing the need for large pools of unassigned personnel. Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Tech have also been experimenting with stricter deployment models and reskilling programs to adapt to shrinking margins.
Rajiv Mehta, an independent IT strategist, notes:
“TCS’s move is a message to the entire sector. Companies can no longer afford the traditional bench model. Every hour not billed is money lost.”
Why Now?
TCS employs over 600,000 professionals worldwide, and utilization metrics directly impact quarterly earnings. With global economic conditions still uncertain and clients tightening technology budgets, TCS is being proactive in ensuring resource efficiency.
The company’s last earnings report already hinted at the need for “higher operational discipline,” and this policy seems like a concrete step in that direction.
What Lies Ahead?
While some hail the move as necessary for survival, others view it as potentially stress-inducing for junior staff and new joiners still navigating the system.
TCS has stated that exceptions will exist for niche skill roles or employees undergoing training. However, for the vast majority, the message is clear: stay billable, stay employed.
With this bold reset, TCS is redefining what it means to be “on the bench.” The relaxed wait-and-watch days between projects are over. In their place, a new performance-driven era has dawned—where every working day must count, and productivity is no longer optional.
As the world’s IT delivery hub evolves, TCS’s policy may well become a template for the next phase of the Indian tech revolution.
