IT giant Accenture has reportedly issued a stern warning to its India-based workforce that showing up at the office without reserving a desk could result in disciplinary action. The directive highlights a growing mismatch between employee numbers and available workspace, as companies continue to rethink office usage in a hybrid work era.
In an internal email dated 14 March, the company’s return-to-office team highlighted the importance of reserving seats in advance.Employeeswho ignore this requirement may face consequences, according to a Mint report citing sources familiar with the matter.
“Repeated walk-ins to the office without a confirmed seat booking are being closely monitored, and appropriate corrective action will be taken,” read an internal email sent by Accenture India’s team, as per the report.
While the exact nature of these actions was not shared, the move signals a stricter stance than that of peers. Employees must now secure a workspace at least a day prior, by 12 pm, to ensure access to office facilities, states the email cited in the report.
The policy has also impacted logistics. “We are unable to avail transportation like shuttle services to office locations if we do not have a confirmed seat booking,” said an employee in the report.
Hybrid Work Mode Meets Space Constraints
Accenture currently operates on a flexible hybrid model without fixed in-office days. However, the seat reservation requirement suggests capacity challenges as the firm continues to optimise its real estate footprint.
The company explained the rationale in its communication: “Advanced seat booking is critical as it enables effective seat planning and optimal utilisation of our office capacity—laying the foundation for a consistent in-office experience.”
Despite this, some employees feel restricted. “Some of us like working from the office and would want to do so even on days when our project does not have allocated seats. Making it mandatory to book seats makes it tough for us to do so,” said another employee in the Mint report.
Industry experts believe the policy reflects broader cost-control efforts. With pressure on margins, companies are cutting excess office space and focusing on efficiency. “It does suggest that they have more people than seats. Clearly, Accenture can achieve better utilisation if space is booked in advance. With margins under pressure, all tech services firms are attempting to be as efficient as possible,” said Peter Bendor-Samuel, founder of Everest Group, in the report.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
