Now Reading: Tech Mahindra denies terminating Hyderabad techie who protested
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Tech Mahindra denies terminating Hyderabad techie who protested
Tech Mahindra denies terminating Hyderabad techie who protested
R Bhavana, a software engineer at Tech Mahindra, staged a protest outside the company's Hyderabad facility alleging unfair termination after taking medical leave to care for her ill daughter. She also claimed…
R Bhavana, a software engineer at Tech Mahindra, staged a protest outside the company's Hyderabad facility alleging unfair termination after taking medical leave to care for her ill daughter. She also claimed workplace harassment and filed a police complaint. The protest, supported by climate activist Ruchith, went viral on social media, sparking debate on corporate leave policies and employee grievance redressal.
Tech Mahindra countered that Bhavana remains an active employee, with her July salary processed normally. The company said it issued a communication citing abandonment of services on 22 July but never implemented the separation. It stated she had taken 27 working days of leave since joining in March and had been asked to provide medical documentation and report to work.
The company alleged Bhavana did not intend to resume work and was seeking an unjustified financial settlement. It maintained she had access to internal grievance mechanisms and that the public allegations did not reflect the full sequence of events.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The dispute highlights gaps in how Indian IT firms handle long-term medical leave under the Shops and Establishments Act and company policies. Most large firms have an internal ethics committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, but medical leave grievances often lack a dedicated forum, pushing employees to air complaints publicly. The outcome will hinge on whether Bhavana's police complaint leads to a criminal investigation or labour tribunal proceedings. Industry observers will watch if this prompts Tech Mahindra or peer firms like Infosys and TCS to clarify leave and termination protocols for chronic illness cases.
The dispute highlights gaps in how Indian IT firms handle long-term medical leave under the Shops and Establishments Act and company policies.
Source: livemint.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
