Work from home (WFH) became widespread after the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with many companies allowing employees to work remotely. Over time, some firms continued to offer full WFH options, while others
adopted hybrid models that required employees to return to the office a few days a week. However, this trend now appears to be shifting, as several major companies are asking employees to return to the office full-time.
According to recent reports, Infosys has tightened its WFH policy, while Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro now require employees to be physically present at work. Employees who had grown accustomed to flexible schedules may once again need to adjust to a regular office routine.
Strict Office Attendance Rules
According to a Firstpost report, TCS has made office attendance a key factor that will now directly impact employee bonuses and promotions. Employees who are not physically present in the office may face reduced pay and limited growth opportunities. Wipro has also introduced a mandate requiring employees to work from the office for at least six hours a day on three days each week.
Infosys, meanwhile, has capped additional work-from-home days at five per quarter, except in cases of serious medical reasons. Employees at junior levels are now required to be in the office for at least 10 days each month, and the new system will not approve WFH requests beyond the prescribed limit.
WFH limits At Infosys
Sources told the Economic Times that Infosys allows employees to work from home for up to 30 extra days if they face serious medical issues. Earlier, after announcing its quarterly earnings, the company had said it was not planning major changes on their hybrid work policy. CEO Salil Parekh had explained that Infosys intends to stay flexible about how employees work and interact with both the company and clients. This means while the company is encouraging more office attendance, it is still willing to make exceptions for genuine reasons.
Industry experts explain that tech companies are reducing remote work because teams need to work together more closely as project schedules change quickly. Projects are no longer long-term, so companies need to be flexible and move staff where they are most needed. This has made in-person collaboration more important. Experts predict that in 2026, many companies will ask employees to come back to the office full-time or at least on designated office days to make project management smoother.
