Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) blacklisted six employees and six staffing companies and other three employees are being investigated after whistleblowers blew the lid off a bribe-for-jobs scam. However, the Tata Group Company is unable to calculate the benefits the employees received.
“We found six employees who did not follow the ethical conduct and we cannot quantify what favours they got, they suddenly behaved in a way that favoured certain firms. So, we have banned six such employees and six Business Associate (BA) companies. Investigation is pending on three more employees,” TCS Chairman N Chandrasekaran told shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting.
TCS had received two whistleblower complaints, one each in February and March, and these were related to certain individuals in the company “favouring” certain BAs. Both the complaints were investigated, he added.
Two whistleblower accusations were filed against the corporation, one involving the US and one involving India. A top company officer is conducting the investigation in India, while the corporation has contracted with an outside firm to look into the matter in the US.
“For a Tata Group, the most important thing that is expected of every employee is an ethical conduct and integrity in operation, and that comes first ahead of any financial performance. So, whenever there is a violation of ethical conduct by any employee, it pains us, pains me and all the leaders very deeply. We take it extremely seriously and we will always take strong action,” he added.