NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
A group of American tech professionals has accused tech giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) of discriminatory practices, alleging that the company terminated their employment and replaced them with lower-paid foreign workers, primarily from India, who hold H1-B visas.
Since late December, at least 22 American workers have lodged complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against TCS, according to Wall Street Journal. The allegations suggest that the company violated laws prohibiting discrimination based on race and age by dismissing these workers and substituting their positions with individuals from India on temporary work visas.
The former TCS employees hail from diverse racial backgrounds, including Caucasians, Asian-Americans, and Hispanic Americans, with ages ranging from their 40s to their 60s. They reside across more than a dozen states in the U.S. Many of these professionals hold advanced degrees, such as master’s in business administration, and have garnered years of positive performance reviews and bonuses for their contributions in areas such as finance, operations, and supply-chain management.
According to the complaints reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, the dismissed workers were abruptly removed from projects last year, despite their history of commendable performance. The former employees have pointed to statements made by TCS’s global human resources head, Milind Lakkad, in an interview with Indian media last year. Lakkad purportedly indicated that TCS aimed to decrease its American workforce while providing more opportunities to Indian nationals in the U.S.
One former employee, as detailed in a complaint, recounted how TCS human resources personnel disclosed in an all-hands meeting their intention to utilize funds saved from shuttering a unit that employed numerous American workers to facilitate employment for more Indian nationals in the U.S.
TCS, a prominent player in the outsourcing industry with clients including major U.S. firms, has yet to respond publicly to these allegations.
