‘Exploitation’: IT Professionals In Pune’s Hinjawadi, Magarpatta, Kharadi Speak Out Against 90-Day Notice Period

The 90-day notice period for IT professionals has raised mixed concerns among both employees and employers. The notice period signifies that an individual, before switching to a new place of work, has to mandatorily serve a certain number of days in their relieving office. The number of days in the notice period depends from company to company. However, in India, major IT companies follow the norm of a 90-day notice period.

Pune, known as the Silicon Valley of Maharashtra, hosts major IT companies, primarily in the Magarpatta and Hinjawadi areas, and a few in Baner and Kharadi. IT professionals have criticised the 90-day notice period, arguing that it hampers their swift movement between companies.

Manoj Rode, who completed his notice period in June at a company in Hinjawadi, told The Free Press Journal that the 90-day notice period is employee exploitation at the hands of the employer. "The maximum time it takes for Knowledge Transfer (KT) can be 15–20 days; serving more than that is both tiresome and frustrating," he added.

Another IT professional, Ketan Suresh, said, "90 days hampers the ability to get a job. Hiring companies ask for quick joining, but at the same time, the notice period has to be served; otherwise, one has to buy out the notice period of 60 days, which puts a strain on the employee’s pocket. If not served, sometimes employers adopt tactics like delaying the release of the relieving certificate or holding the salary." Another employee, who chose to remain anonymous, said that the notice period should be a maximum of 30–45 days. "Globally, most IT companies have no more than a 30-day notice period," he said.

An HR of a reputed IT firm, requesting anonymity, told FPJ that the 90-day notice period in IT companies is no case of harassment as alleged by employees. If they think any wrong has been done to them, they always have the option to opt for legal recourse, she said. She argued that individuals, while joining the company, share false information about the notice period of their previous company, which results in friction between the employee and the employer. Citing a few cases, she said that sometimes companies do not want to lose on the project and the employee, so they take measures like increasing the package or a mandatory 90-day notice period and others. She emphasised the need for clear communication between the employee and the employer regarding their notice period in the previous company, for the swift onboarding of the employee.

Another HR shared a similar concern about the lack of clear communication and the importance of acquainting oneself with the terms and conditions of the onboarding company. He told FPJ that the 90-day notice period is not a norm; companies subjectively decide on the notice period. Only US IT companies practice a one-month notice period, whereas in India and the UK, there is a maximum 60-day notice period, he added.