According to recent reports from the IT-employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), campus hires from LTIMindtree who were offered jobs in January 2022 are still waiting to be onboarded.
In addition, the IT services company has required these campus hires to complete a new training program in order to prove their eligibility.
Mindtree Delays Onboarding of Freshers
The campus hires have criticized the training curriculum, viewing it as a tactic to terminate their employment.
They are concerned that if they do not participate, their offer letters will be automatically revoked.
This situation is occurring at a time when the IT services sector is facing a challenging business environment due to global macro headwinds, resulting in widespread layoffs, slow hiring, and delayed onboarding.
Two days ago, freshers received an email informing them about the training program called IGNITE, which has also been seen by Moneycontrol.
The email urges them to confirm their enrollment in the training program by April 12 at 6 p.m.
Several sources indicate that around 600-700 freshers, who are still waiting for their joining dates, will have to undergo this additional training and screening process.
According to Harpreet Singh Saluja, the President of NITES, “Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) strongly condemns the unethical practices being adopted by LTI Mindtree.
We have received complaints that the company is planning to terminate the employment of freshers who have been waiting for their joining dates for more than a year, citing a new training program called IGNITE.”
In January 2022, the IT company sent offer letters to the freshers for training and employment, but instead of providing them with a joining date, it has now introduced a 6-7 week-long Learning and Training Program.
Freshers have been given two options: either to undergo the assessment-based training or have their earlier offer automatically canceled.
The company’s conduct is highly objectionable and in violation of ethical business standards.
It may also establish a hazardous precedent for future hiring practices.
The company is evidently causing these freshers to experience uncertainty and using the new program as a pretext for delaying their onboarding.
This is not only unjust to the freshers who have been patiently awaiting employment, but it is also a breach of faith and a violation of their rights as employees.
“We call upon LTI Mindtree to reconsider their decision and establish a transparent process for the onboarding of these freshers.
The company must honor the commitment made to these freshers and offer them a fair and equal opportunity to start their employment.
This behavior is not only unfair to the freshers who have been waiting eagerly for their employment but also violates their rights as employees.
Therefore, we urge LTI Mindtree to halt this program immediately and provide these freshers with a definite onboarding date,” said Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES.
Offer Letters Given Out to Freshers in January 2022
Saluja mentioned that these freshers were selected from their campus in November 2021, and the company issued offer letters in January 2022.
Upon completion of the training course, the freshers will undergo evaluation through the IGNITE program.
The program includes 80% self-paced study and 20% instructor-led training, and the assignments will carry a weighted average of roughly 40% for multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 60% for coding tasks.
Each task can be attempted twice, and a minimum score of 60% is required for qualification.
Although the freshers may qualify for the job based on their performance in the IGNITE programme, they are not guaranteed an onboarding date.
The email specifies that they will only be “considered for onboarding in batches based on business demand.”
In addition to LTIMindtree, other IT companies are also resorting to similar tactics. For instance, Wipro recently emailed individuals who had been offered a salary of Rs 6.5 lakh per annum (LPA) in February, asking them to join for Rs 3.5 LPA.
Moreover, there have been reports of delays in the onboarding of Tech Mahindra campus hires as well.
