Navigating Job Security in India's IT Sector: Which Companies Are Safe and Which Aren't?

Hi,

Top most Firing IT companies in India:

1) IBM - Currently, this is the most firing company for IT professionals. In the last 6 months, this company has fired nearly 20% of its employees due to background check and performance issues. It is perceived as the most insecure company from an IT professional's standpoint. They lack strategic HR policies regarding employee security and offer minimal appraisals (maximum 10%).

2) Accenture - This is the second top firing company. The firing rate is around 5%. It depends on outsourced projects; they have a unique system where Accenture development centers worldwide bid for incoming projects. Currently, the Philippines center is leading, and Indian centers are experiencing layoffs.

3) WIPRO - They frequently fire employees after background checks without providing experience or relieving letters (stating termination from services) but assure employees of retention. After the project ends, they terminate employees, threatening criminal action against those who resist and having filed cases against some.

4) Intel - Recently joined the trend. Facing substantial losses, they are phasing out 3000 employees at the Bangalore center.

5) CTS - Maintains a steady firing policy by evaluating educational background, previous employment, and work performance. In a recent HCL walk-in, approximately 50% of attendees were from CTS. However, the company's efforts, including providing iPods, have not yielded positive results.

6) CSC - Offers an attractive package but dismisses individuals during background checks and when on the bench. They recently fired over 400 employees from their subsidiary, Covansys.

7) Satyam - Currently on a firing hiatus, with a high attrition rate. The last firing occurred in 2005 before 1000 employees were laid off in Hyderabad.

8) Patni - Due to numerous layoffs, they are currently understaffed. They face a high attrition rate.

9) Keane India - Despite claiming no hire and fire policy, this USA-based company is frequently involved in employee terminations. Recently, they let go of Java and AS400 professionals, leading to increased employee turnover within a year.

Secure IT companies in India:

1) Microsoft - Projects secured until 2050.

2) EDS - Known as the most secure company in India, having retained all employees even during the 2001 downturn. Engaged in numerous projects in defense and finance sectors.

3) HP - A dream company with a mix of in-house and outsourced projects.

4) TCS - Considered a government company.

5) AOL, Google, and Yahoo - Highly regarded workplaces with excellent job satisfaction, salaries, and work environments. Rarely dismiss employees due to their internet-based nature, offering ample growth opportunities.

6) HCL - Reputed as a stable company often viewed as a retirement destination.

7) HSBC - A highly secure company, never dismissing employees even when fake experience is detected.

8) Aricent - A communication-based software company known for its excellent perks and incentives, project abundance, and minimal attrition.

9) KPIT Cummins Infosystems Limited - A lesser-known highly secure company, having recently acquired CG Smith in Bangalore and possessing multiple ongoing projects. Acquisition plans are in place for the future.

Regards,

Vijaya :)

Dear Vijaya,

Greetings.

Thank you for sharing one of the vibrant topics of HR on the last day of the year. Your information is thought-provoking and very useful for all HR professionals to gain knowledge on attrition and firing. Everyone wants to associate themselves with a company that offers future prospects. Your information will serve as an eye-opener for any IT company looking to redesign their HR policy.

I look forward to hearing our seniors' views to further discuss this topic.

Cheers,
Trisha
HR Professional

Hi Vijaya,

Wish you a happy and prosperous new year - 2008!! Let's hope so.
Yes, you are right and damn right about it. This trend is going to continue for quite a while until they come up with realistic benchmarks with a lot of amnesty. Some truths for aspiring candidates:
- Bigger company does not mean a bigger salary or a better environment nor 'security'.
- In fact, there is no such thing as 'job security'. It is the candidate who has to secure himself!
- Practice honesty. Build honesty into your CV. Present/summarize facts with a lot of clarity.

Regards,
Mohan
BANGALORE

Hi Vijaya,

I am curious to know the source of this information you have shared.

Wishing you a happy new year.

Regards,

Vandana

Hi Vijay,

Thank you very much for sharing such important information. I have successfully cleared all rounds of interviews at IBM Barakhamba Road, New Delhi. However, I am now contemplating before making a decision to join.

Regards,
AYESHA.

Hi Vijaya,

Wishing you a HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2008. I was impressed after reading your post; it was a useful piece of information. Personally, I need help from you. I am currently in my final year of M.COM and have to submit a project on STRESS MANAGEMENT OF EMPLOYEES. Could you please assist me with some valuable suggestions for the same?

Thank you & Regards,
K Jaichandran

Hi Jaichandran,

Wish you a HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2008. I was impressed after reading your post; it was a useful piece of information. Personally, I need help from you. I am currently in my final year of M.COM, and I have to submit a project on STRESS MANAGEMENT OF EMPLOYEES. Can you please assist me with some valuable suggestions?

Thank you & Regards,
K Jaichandran

Hi,

I can help you, but do you want some data regarding stress management, or do you want to know how to start the project and in which company you are doing the project?

Regards,
Vijaya

Ravi,

It is not good to make a comment on the HR personnel involved in the organizations. Rules are made and decisions are taken by top management in many organizations. HR only implements them.

Dear Vijaya,

Your findings about hiring and firing records of IT companies are great. It would have been better if you had included the records of some more companies like Infosys, NIIT Technologies, and some big ITES companies like Genpact, Convergys, etc.

Thanks for the information.

Regards,
Debashis

Hi Vandana,

I am curious to know the source of the information you have shared. Wish you a happy new year.

Regards,
Vandana

Hi,

One of my friends had sent me. He mentioned that the report was from Indian Research Academy.

Regards,
Vijaya

Hi Vijya,

Belated Happy New Year wishes to you and all HR Forum Members. This is very valuable information for all employees. Everyone wants to have a secure job, so I think this will help a lot.

Regards,
Bhaskr

Hi Vijaya,

Wishing you a very happy New Year 2008! Thank you for compiling such valuable information about IT companies.

Here are the issues regarding the top most firing IT companies:

1. Reference/background check and performance issues: It is well-known that many IT professionals falsify their profiles concerning skill sets and previous companies worked for, making it a significant ethical issue. Firing becomes necessary to instill a culture of high performance and ethics within the organization.

2. If a company loses a project bid, like Accenture, justifying overheads without work for professionals becomes a challenge. Retraining and acquiring new skill sets can be an issue that many professionals may not be inclined towards.

As you rightfully pointed out, these are high-risk companies to work for. However, I see it as a tremendous opportunity and challenge for HR professionals to make a difference by implementing HR practices and initiatives to create a secure environment.

Looking forward to the comments and views from other members.

Regards,
Rajat

Hi Vijaya,

Thank you for this useful information, but could you please let us know the source of the information? As an IT professional, I want to be aware of the authentication of this data.

Hi Vijaya,

Can you tell me more about IBM's background check process? I heard that they are currently laying off many employees. Also, do you know why they are asking employees to leave?

Thank you.

Hi Mam,

I feel you are the right person who can answer my query. One of my friends is very talented and has done an MBA (HR) from a prestigious MBA Institute, got campus placed in some company and due to some circumstances joined HP on Third Party Rolls. Now, he is liking the job but looking at the kind of credentials he feels out of place sometimes when he sees the batchmates earning so much and at different places.

Getting confirmed on the Payrolls is a difficult option as there are seniors who are already working on Third Party Rolls and hoping for the conversions. What shall he do? What kind of career growth does he have? Should he think of leaving HP where he is actually getting a lot of job satisfaction or continue? It will be really grateful if you'll give some insight.

The Need for Unions in IT & ITES Sectors

This is why the IT & ITES sectors need to have established unions to protect workers' rights. Let us not look down on unions as something only laborers enter—this is a pressing need with many IT & ITES companies ill-treating employees and practicing illegal and unethical employment practices.

Ensure proper line breaks between paragraphs for better readability.

Hi Payal,

Thanks for updating, but I could not see Infosys in the list, and others like Adobe/Sapient. Where do they stand? Also, does this firing apply only to IT professionals or to all employees working in their organization?

Regards,
Deepa

Good information for prospective candidates to judge the kind of company they are joining and make a decision if required.

I am amazed at the amount of research that would have gone into getting information about so many companies and their hire-fire policies. I am tempted to ask how you managed to source this kind of information.

Pratima

Hi Payal,

Please let me know if you have any information about Mysis Healthcare. Do they conduct background verification before joining or post-joining? What is their strategy when it comes to termination? Could you provide some insights?

Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I wonder if this list is the most updated one. Many of the safe haven companies in the list have shown gates to 100+ employees due to rupee appreciation. The reasons are the same: low performance. TCS and Google were mentioned in The Economic Times.

You made me laugh like hell. HCL is the worst company. They will just conduct a walk-in and will not take anyone. My friend got selected in it, but they made him sit on the bench for months and did not arrange even one project interview. They hire people from outside for the same job profile, but those who are in and are on the bench cannot apply for it. Recently, they have fired some 200 people from Noida, some even on just one week's notice. It's better to write the truth than some useless data.

Understanding Employment Security in IT Companies

Every company on the list mentioned fires its employees at will. Nobody is good or bad; they are all in the same league. Profit matters the most to them. It's time employees learn that no company can be your dream company unless you are an important person in their schemes or plans. Even then, there is no guarantee that you will not be fired. So, it's better to be prepared to move at short notice. You must be willing to leave the company the moment you see trouble.

In such circumstances, there is a danger of not finding your next job immediately or not getting the right package. So, prepare yourself for all such eventualities from the day you start working. This is my advice to senior professionals across all industries. I meet many of them daily who seek personalized job search assistance, which I provide without making much noise in the market.

This short cycle of good and bad years will continue for some time in the near future. Most companies are not able to foresee changes even though they employ experts for the same.

Regards