As Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) prepares to lay off over 12,000 employees in FY26, concerns are mounting among staff placed under performance improvement plans (PIP). A recent post by a TCS employee on Reddit has shed light on the emotional and professional uncertainty many are currently facing within the organization.
The employee, who has been with the company for nearly two years, described being put on a two-month PIP after receiving a “D” band rating during the appraisal cycle. According to the post, a recent internal project shift also came with a revised compensation letter that offered a lower salary than the employee’s original joining offer.
Uncertainty Around Resignation and Termination
The Reddit post raised several pressing questions that many others in similar situations may share. The employee asked whether resigning during a PIP would still require serving the full three-month notice period and whether all official documents—such as experience letters—would still be provided if the exit was not on positive terms.
“If my manager doesn’t provide positive feedback, what happens then? Am I terminated, or asked to resign? Do I get my documents then?” the post read.
Fear of Impact on Career and Mental Health
The employee also expressed deep concern about how the situation might affect future job opportunities, especially with a recent compensation downgrade and a negative appraisal. “Is PIP a sure-shot layoff given the current state of the organisation?” he wrote.
Describing the toll the experience has taken, the employee added, “It’s mentally and emotionally screwing me down to the core,” highlighting the psychological pressure faced by workers amid layoffs and heightened performance scrutiny.
Wider Layoff Plans and Industry Pressure
TCS’s layoff announcement, made in late July, is expected to impact employees across various departments and global locations. CEO K. Krithivasan cited changing skill requirements and challenges with internal redeployment as key reasons behind the decision.
Industry analysts note that employees placed under PIP are often more vulnerable during large-scale restructuring, especially as automation and AI continue to reshape roles across the IT sector.
Image Source: Google
Image Credit: Respective Owner
