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Introduction: A Controversial New Normal in Indian Tech
India’s tech and business process outsourcing (BPO) sector has long been known for demanding workloads and tight deadlines. However, Genpact, one of the country’s major players in the industry, has recently stirred controversy with a policy that pushes those boundaries even further. Beginning mid-June 2025, the company is enforcing a 10-hour workday requirement for employees — with no corresponding increase in base pay. This mandate has triggered concern, criticism, and outright frustration among employees, raising questions about workplace culture, employee well-being, and the future of labor standards in corporate India.
Genpact’s 10-Hour Workday Mandate
Genpact has introduced a new policy that mandates employees to work a minimum of 10 hours per day. According to a report by The Hindu, the directive will be enforced through an internal productivity monitoring tool that tracks daily active hours. Compliance is rewarded with a points-based system — employees can earn up to 500 points per month, convertible into Rs 3,000 in incentives. Additionally, an extra 5% bonus (approximately Rs 150) will be awarded for time logged beyond the required 10 hours.
What’s raising eyebrows, however, is the lack of any raise in base salaries to accompany this significant hike in working hours. The new rule has been met with notable dissatisfaction, especially in Genpact’s Hyderabad office, where employee morale is reportedly low and tensions are running high.
Another major point of contention is the informal nature of the policy’s rollout. Rather than being communicated formally through the Human Resources department, the new directive has been disseminated by managers and team leads — often verbally. Employees feel that this ambiguity has created an environment of fear and confusion, where questioning the policy is equated to insubordination and could lead to termination.
A senior recruiter expressed concern to The Hindu, stating, “There’s nothing on paper. It’s all word of mouth. If anyone challenges it, they’re accused of being difficult and risk termination.”
Dissatisfaction has also spilled onto social media. Abhishek Sharma, an Assistant Manager at Genpact, voiced his discontent in a LinkedIn post with the hashtag For10HrLogin. He raised critical questions about whether the policy undermines productivity, creativity, and mental health. “In today’s world where efficiency and output matter more than screen time, shouldn’t we focus on results, not hours?” he asked, calling on leadership to rethink the move and engage in dialogue on smarter, healthier work models.
What Undercode Say:
The Genpact controversy is a perfect case study in how modern companies often struggle to reconcile legacy managerial philosophies with contemporary employee expectations. At the heart of the issue lies a fundamental clash between output-driven and time-driven work cultures.
On paper, the policy might appear to incentivize performance. However, it inadvertently sends the message that time spent online equals value delivered — a dated view in a digital-first, AI-enhanced workplace. This is especially problematic in an industry where cognitive tasks, innovation, and client engagement often occur in unpredictable bursts rather than scheduled 10-hour blocks.
Moreover, the introduction of a point-based incentive system without addressing the base salary raises red flags. It commodifies employee time in a gamified system, sidestepping actual financial security or meaningful compensation. Rs 3,000 in incentives for 220+ logged hours (roughly 22 working days) amounts to just Rs 136 per day — barely enough to buy lunch in most Indian cities, let alone compensate for mental strain or reduced personal time.
The informal rollout of the policy also erodes institutional trust. Without official documentation or HR communication, employees are left vulnerable to misinterpretation and abuse of power by middle managers. This breaks a core tenet of organizational transparency and fuels toxic workplace dynamics.
Worse still, the threat of performance reviews or even termination for non-compliance effectively turns what should be optional incentives into coercive tools. In industries where attrition is already high, this could accelerate burnout and employee churn, particularly among younger talent who prioritize flexible, meaningful work.
From a broader perspective, Genpact’s move reflects a troubling trend: the rebranding of overwork as dedication in the guise of “productivity.” But true productivity stems from autonomy, clarity, and a culture of trust — not surveillance and time logs.
Companies like Genpact need to take a hard look at the psychological cost of such policies. Employees are not machines, and the human brain doesn’t thrive under constant pressure. Creativity, problem-solving, and high-quality client service demand breaks, balance, and boundaries. With global conversations increasingly focused on four-day workweeks, AI-enhanced workflows, and mental health, Genpact’s 10-hour requirement feels regressive — a throwback to an industrial model ill-suited for the digital era.
🔍 Fact Checker Results:
✅ Verified: Genpact’s policy was reported by credible sources like The Hindu, with direct quotes from affected employees.
✅ Verified: The 10-hour workday is being enforced through monitoring tools and lacks formal HR documentation.
❌ Unverified: There is no official corporate statement from Genpact on the salary policy or disciplinary action yet.
📊 Prediction:
If Genpact fails to formally clarify or revise this policy, the company is likely to face higher attrition rates in the next two quarters, especially among mid-level professionals. Social media backlash could escalate, attracting public scrutiny and damaging employer branding. Competitors offering more flexible models may see a spike in applications from current Genpact employees. If the company does not pivot toward a more transparent and employee-centric model soon, it risks becoming a case study in how not to manage organizational change in the post-pandemic tech economy.
References:
Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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