Infosys CEO addresses questions on toxic work culture, stagnant salaries. What he said

Infosys reaffirmed its plans to hire approximately 15,000 freshers in FY25.

Infosys CEO and Managing Director Salil Parekh addressed allegations of toxic work culture and stagnant salaries during the company’s Q3 FY25 earnings call on January 16. The IT services major reported a net profit of Rs 6,806 crore for the quarter, marking an 11.46% year-on-year growth.

Parekh faced questions about Infosys' workplace environment, which has come under scrutiny following a series of controversies. Criticism began in 2023 when Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy sparked backlash by advocating for a 70-hour workweek for young professionals.

In the months that followed, numerous employees and former staff raised concerns about stagnant fresher salaries, which have reportedly remained unchanged for over a decade, excessive workloads, and systemic issues within the organisation.

Adding to it was a viral LinkedIn post by Pune-based former Infosys employee Bhupendra Vishwakarma. Vishwakarma revealed that he quit the company despite having no alternative job offers and being the sole breadwinner for his family. He cited several reasons for his departure, including:

Lack of financial growth despite a promotion.
Unfair workload redistribution.
Stagnant career progression.
A toxic client environment.
Limited recognition and onsite opportunities.
Perceived regional bias.

When specifically asked about Vishwakarma’s viral post during the earnings call, Parekh reaffirmed Infosys' commitment to fairness and equity within the organisation.

“In terms of the employee question, within Infosys, we have a very clear approach to ensure everyone is treated fairly,” Parekh stated. “We have a well-defined process for evaluating performance, and we hold ourselves to high standards to ensure equal opportunities for all employees.”

When a reporter from Moneycontrol directly referenced Vishwakarma’s claims, Parekh said, “Bhupendra said a lot of things on LinkedIn about the culture and work environment. What are your views on that?”

Parekh responded by reiterating the company’s principles and emphasising the fairness of its internal processes.

The issue of toxic work culture has not been limited to Infosys. In a related development, L&T Chairman SN Subramanyan recently faced criticism for advocating work on Sundays. In a video that circulated online, Subramanyan remarked, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays.”

Despite these controversies, Infosys reaffirmed its plans to hire approximately 15,000 freshers in FY25. The company is reportedly on track to achieve this target, indicating its continued focus on talent acquisition and growth.