Wipro just dropped a game-changing update to its hybrid work policy starting January 1, 2026, and it’s got employees talking. The IT giant still follows a hybrid work model, but now they have added a clear rule for employees: Stay in the office for at least 6 hours on your three required in-person days each week. No more “hit-and-run” office visits, this ensures teams can actually collaborate face-to-face.The 6-hour office stay rulePreviously, Wipro’s hybrid setup was flexible but vague on the office hours requirement. Employees had to show up three days a week, but no one specified how long. Now, according to a report by The Economic Times, those six hours must fall between your app check-in and check-out time. Think of it as quality time, not just a quick swipe in the office just for attendance purposes.However, this doesn’t change the employees’ regular 9.5-hour workday. As per the reports, after spending six hours in-office on mandated days, employees have to then finish the rest from home, a café, or wherever productivity strikes. An internal email from the company reads, “We support hybrid work but need everyone on the same page for better collaboration.”What happens if you fall short?Skip the full six hours? Expect consequences. The policy docks half a leave day from your balance for the first slip-up. Repeat offenders face steeper cuts to their total leave quota, as per the report.Flexibility isn’t dead, though. Their 2024 perk, which allowed 30 remote days yearly for illness or family care, is now slashed to 12 days in 2026. This aligns with broader Indian IT hybrid policy trends at firms like TCS, Infosys, and HCL, where bosses want measurable office presence amid hybrid fatigue.Why Wipro made this moveThis shift to mandatory hours in the office on work-from-office days mirrors global tech trends post the COVID-19 pandemic. McKinsey research shows that structured hybrid work maintains or boosts productivity, with employees reporting up to 20% gains in flexible arrangements. And Wipro seems to be following this trend.How employees reactedEmployees gave mixed reactions to the news, as per the report. Those who loved working remotely weren’t happy about commuting and juggling family responsibilities, while those who preferred to come to the office were in favour of the change. However, Wipro says that it will check how the new policy works and if needed they’ll make changes.What’s your take on mandatory office hours? Drop thoughts below!
