Wipro has started the new year by tightening the way it operates its hybrid work model, with employees asked to spend minimum time inside the office on the day they report to work. The move, communicated through an internal email, is a change from the relatively flexible approach adopted by the IT chief so far, even after making office attendance mandatory for some days of the week.

According to a report in The Economic Times, Wipro has now made it mandatory for employees to spend at least six hours in the office on each office-working day. This rule applies to the existing order of reporting to office three days a week, which the company has already implemented. What is new, however, is a clear definition of how long employees must remain on the premises between their “inside” and “outside” strikes.

The updated hybrid work policy has come into effect from January 1, and Wipro’s HR team has reportedly informed employees about the change via email. In the communication, the company reiterated that hybrid working remains central to its long-term workplace strategy, even as it brings closer scrutiny to ensure stability across teams.

“We are confident that all associates will follow the policy in letter and spirit as it supports collaboration across teams while providing flexibility,” Wipro said in an email.

Also, the company clarified an important detail that might otherwise create confusion. The six-hour requirement applies only to the minimum amount of time employees spend in the office and does not reduce total daily work hours. Wipro’s standard working day is still 9.5 hours. Employees are expected to complete the remaining hours from home on the same day and ensure that their assigned work is completed.

The revised system also deals with attendance tracking and leave management, the report said. If employees fail to complete the weekly work requirement from office, it may affect their leave balance. More specifically, those who spend less than six hours in the office on a designated office day may face a reduction in leave of half a day.

This strict enforcement comes just months after Wipro formalized its hybrid work structure for the first time. In October 2024, Wipro Chief Human Resources Officer Saurabh Govil announced a “new hybrid work policy” that would require employees to be in the office three days a week, while still allowing limited flexibility for remote work year-round.

Under that earlier policy, employees were allowed an additional 30 days of remote work in a calendar year, divided into two categories. If an employee was unwell, up to 15 days could be used, while another 15 days were reserved for caring responsibilities if a family member needed assistance. However, as per the hybrid policy which came into effect from January 1, Wipro has reduced this flexibility. The number of remote work days available under specific circumstances has reportedly been reduced to 12 days in a calendar year from the previous 15, tightening access to expanded work-from-home options.

The changes show that while Wipro is projecting hybrid work as the future, it is also looking to bring more structure and accountability to how the model is followed on the ground.