IT companies’ association still undecided on working from home

BENGALURU: Due to the impact of the war, fuel prices are skyrocketing day by day. In this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a seven-point austerity appeal to help the nation navigate global economic turbulence and energy crises. One of those suggestions was to prioritise work from home.

The PM had suggested that companies should reintroduce work from home, virtual meetings, and online meetings like during the Covid period. This suggestion is causing a lot of debate in Bengaluru, known as the IT hub and Silicon City. Some IT employees are posting on social media demanding work-from-home facility. Others are expressing the opinion that it is not needed.

In this context, the Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association has clarified that work from home cannot be implemented suddenly. This system requires the agreement of IT companies, workers, and clients. Importantly, companies in Bengaluru are already in a hybrid model, with two-three days of work from office and two days of work from home for employees.

Additionally, many IT companies work for clients in the US and several other foreign countries. The IT Association said that the work from home system is especially difficult in BPOs. Further, there are around 4,500 IT-BT and other companies on Outer Ring Road alone.

Due to Bengaluru’s traffic and rain, these companies have already given a hybrid work model, so it is not possible to allow work from home for now. Also, no advisory has come from the Centre or State to adopt the work from home system. The association said that if one comes, they will consider it.

Mayur, the treasurer of the the Greater Bengaluru IT Companies and Industries Association, said, “The PM had given a call to reintroduce work-from-home, but it is not so easy as there are several factors to be considered. Also, the companies, employees and clients have to agree to the shift. IT Companies have already introduced hybrid work mode, but it is difficult to introduce WFH for BPOs.”

“As of now, we have not received any advisory from either the state or central government. If there is any such thing, industry bodies like Nascom will look into it and tell us. There are about 4,000 companies in the IT corridor”, he added. Overall, work from home is not being implemented for now in most companies in Bengaluru, which is an IT-BT hub.