TATA Technologies start 'Benching' its Employees! - Details

Tata Technologies has benched several employees starting from earlier this week, due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic. According to the company’s spokesperson, fewer than 400 employees are currently benched.
“In response to the changed business environment, we are focused on making Tata Technologies a nimble, responsive and flexible organization. Consequently, we have undertaken several actions including optimization of our bench resources,” said a Tata Technologies spokesperson. Hundreds of employees who are currently benched will be put on paid leave, followed by unpaid leave.
The spokesperson has also added that all the employees who are on the rolls and their families will be covered under the company’s health insurance policy until the end of this year.
“In case they opt to not take the option, statutory redundancy process would be applicable. An overwhelming majority of such employees have opted to go on paid/ unpaid leave option as it allows them to be on the rolls and also covered under group Mediclaim which is important under current circumstances. We intend to bring them back on full time roles if demand comes back, as anticipated,” said the spokesperson.
However, the National Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has registered a complaint on behalf of the employees. The Labour Commissioner in Pune has been requested to take action against Tata Technologies. The General Secretary of NITES said that the email regarding benching the employees arrived on July 2 and that the company must follow what Ratan Tata had said about retrenchment of employees not being a solution during these unprecedented times.
No further development in the case has been reported.