Infosys CEO Salil Parekh has responded to allegations of a toxic work culture by a former employee whose viral LinkedIn post sparked widespread debate. “Within Infosys, we have a clear approach to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. We hold ourselves to high standards,” Parekh said during a recent conference call.
Bhupendra Vishwakarma, a former chief systems engineer, highlighted systemic flaws, regional bias and an unhealthy work environment at the firm. Despite being the sole breadwinner, he resigned without another job offer. “For three years I worked hard, met expectations and contributed to the team, but I saw no financial recognition for my efforts,” he wrote.
He described how his promotion brought more responsibilities but no pay rise, leaving him disillusioned.
Another key issue Vishwakarma highlighted was attrition in society. The size of his team was reduced from 50 to 30, but management decided to redistribute the workload rather than hire replacements. “Instead of hiring replacements or providing support, management took the easy way out – overloading the existing team without compensation or recognition,” he said.
Assigned to a loss-making account, Vishwakarma described limited opportunities for salary increases or career advancement. “The account I was assigned to was unprofitable as my manager admitted. This has a direct impact on salary increases and career growth opportunities. Staying on such an account felt like professional stagnation, with no light at the end of the tunnel,” he wrote, adding that the lack of direction eventually forced him to leave.
Vishwakarma's most serious allegation concerned the high-pressure environment at Infosys. He argued that constant escalations, unrealistic client demands and lack of support create chronic stress. “That pressure trickled down and created stress at all levels of the hierarchy.” It felt like constant firefighting, with no room for personal well-being,” he explained.
He argued that Infosys prioritizes client demands over employee well-being, contributing to a toxic culture.
