Genpact Addresses Employee Concerns, Clarifies 9-Hour Workday Policy

Genpact has informed a media house that the company observes a 9-hour workday, not a 10-hour one as previously suggested, in response to internet criticism of claims of a 10-hour workweek.

However, Genpact refused to provide more information about the policy and did not reply to any further media queries. With effect from June 1, Accenture has formally extended its corporate function (marketing, human resources, and other areas) workday from 8 to 9 hours.

Nonetheless, Accenture's workweek is limited to 45 hours, in accordance with all state government regulations. While HCL adheres to a regular 9-hour workweek, Infosys expects employees to clock in for 9 hours and 15 minutes every day.

Genpact’s Employees in a Confused State

There is a climate of mistrust and misunderstanding among Genpact's employees. If formal leadership had announced the longer hours rather than direct management, workers would have felt more comfortable.

After the commotion, many had hoped that the corporation would rethink the decision, but as of right now, it appears that they have no such plans. Additionally, according to reports, Genpact has implemented a mechanism to monitor daily productivity by recording employees' "active hours".

When employees perform the required amount of hours each day, they receive points, which can be exchanged for little bonuses. Employees contend that the bonuses are insufficient to make up for the extra effort, particularly in the absence of a salary increase.

Employees’ Mental and Physical Health at Stake

Employees and human resource specialists worry about the possible harm to workers' productivity and mental health as a result of such a demanding schedule.

Employee well-being will suffer if this trend becomes widespread in the sector. These worries stem from the growing pressure on India's IT-BPM industry to maximise profits in the face of rapid automation and uncertainties in the global economy.

However, experts caution that long-term employee loyalty and brand reputation may suffer in order to achieve short-term cost savings. Genpact's leadership's lack of transparency is currently escalating the unrest.

According to Indian labour laws, the typical workweek is limited to 48 hours, with any extra hours being eligible for overtime pay at double the ordinary rate, said Sanketh Chengappa KG, director and business head – professional staffing, Adecco India, in response to a media question.

Even though these rules aren't usually strictly enforced for white-collar jobs, the contemporary drive for longer workdays has sparked a renewed discussion about worker rights, mental health, and fair compensation—especially when productivity targets are already being reached.

The Karnataka government recently proposed employment reforms that will increase the number of working hours to ten per day while maintaining the 48-hour weekly restriction.

Santhosh Lad, the Karnataka labour minister, said last year that the IT sector was pressuring the state government to pass legislation allowing software developers to work up to 14 hours a day.