The dark clouds hovering over the IT & outsourcing industry certainly have had a direct impact on the future of Indian IT professionals. The Hyderabad based Satyam Computers has reportedly started the process where the total headcount is very likely to come down by 4,500 employees.

Sources close to the company have said that about 1,500 employees have come under the microscope with a performance improvement plan (PIP) where these employees have been asked to perform or quit. The remaining 3,000 employees have seen no hike in the last appraisal that questions their indispensability in the company.

Last week, the company chief, Ramalinga Raju sent an e-mail to all the employees warning them on extraneous matters like attendance, dress code. On failing to follow these company rules, the employees may have to face disciplinary action. The employees on the bench may face the initial axe. 

Earlier, about 400 employees were issued pink slips across different company locations.

Moreover, fearing the worst, most of the employees have started quitting on their own.

According to reports, a Satyam spokesperson said : "The bottom 5% of those who have got a bad appraisal are put under PIP and given dummy projects to prove themselves. If they fail they will be shown the door. But some of them marked for PIP said they have been given very little time to come up as winners." However, even as it downsizes, Satyam continues to hire new employees in thousands. Over 40% of them are fresh blood just passing out of college.”

Despite repeated attempts to reach Satyam officials, IT Examiner has either faced refusal from the company to comment on the matter or, rather rudely, had the phone banged down.

PR officials are either unreachable or calls get transferred to an operator who is apparently deaf and dumb. Whether these PR professionals are hiding under the desk or have already been fired remains a mystery. X