Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is facing scrutiny amid accusations of hiring biases within its US division. A recent Wall Street Journal report sheds light on allegations made by a group of disgruntled American employees, who claim they were terminated by the tech giant to make way for Indian workers on H-1B visas.
According to the report, these American professionals have leveled charges of unlawful discrimination against TCS, citing factors such as race and age. Furthermore, they allege that certain job responsibilities were reassigned to lower-paid Indian immigrants holding temporary work visas.
Typically, when companies undergo layoffs, it’s often the senior employees who are most affected. However, former TCS employees have alleged that the Indian firm violated the law by targeting them based on their race. They assert that TCS exhibited favoritism towards Indian workers in the US who hold coveted H-1B visas.
According to the WSJ report, 22 former TCS employees have lodged complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission since December 2023. These complainants include individuals of Caucasian, Asian-American, and Hispanic American backgrounds, ranging in age from their 40s to their 60s. Additionally, the fired employees mentioned in the WSJ report possess master’s degrees in business administration or other advanced fields.
Former TCS employees have revealed that despite receiving high praise from the company, they were unexpectedly removed from projects last year. Some of these ex-employees have alleged that TCS management actively hindered their attempts to secure new assignments within the company. One complaint highlighted that their responsibilities were handed over to “less-experienced” Indian nationals holding H-1B visas.
In addition, a former employee referenced a statement made by TCS’ global head of human resources, Milind Lakkad, to an Indian media outlet. Lakkad reportedly stated that TCS aims to decrease the number of American employees in the IS (Information Services) division and prefers to create opportunities for Indian workers in that realm.
In response to the allegations raised by the 22 US employees, the Indian IT service firm has vehemently denied the accusations. A spokeswoman for TCS conveyed to the Wall Street Journal that the company maintains a “strong record of being an equal opportunity employer in the US, acting with integrity in its operation.”
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a prominent player within the Tata Group conglomerate, commands a global workforce exceeding 600,000 individuals. However, its presence in the United States typically comprises a smaller contingent, primarily composed of personnel engaged in direct client interactions, as underscored in the report.
The H-1B visa program remains a polarizing topic within the realm of US politics. This nonimmigrant visa framework enables American employers to recruit skilled foreign workers for defined periods. Despite its intended purpose, the H-1B visa system has sparked debates, with the former US President labeling it a “cheap labor program.” Conversely, the Biden administration has taken proactive measures to reform the H-1B visa system, aiming to streamline processes and address the persistent backlog of green card applications.
Amidst this backdrop, allegations leveled against TCS by a group of American employees have stirred controversy. These employees have accused the company of discriminatory practices, alleging that they were replaced by Indian workers on H-1B visas. In response, TCS has vehemently denied these claims, asserting its commitment to being an equal opportunity employer in the US and operating with integrity.