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Hey {{First Name| there}},
Mental health data got uncomfortable. Labour Code pressure got real. And the global layoff wave hit closer to home. Here's what mattered in May.
In This Edition We Cover
Mental health: why awareness isn't enough anymore
Labour Codes: what's in force right now
The layoff wave : what it means for HR in India
What June looks like for HR teams
1️⃣ Mental Health: The Gap Is Psychological Safety
Infosys partnered with NIMHANS to certify their entire HR team in India as Mental Health First Aiders — making mental health a shared organisational responsibility, not just an HR programme. It's a model worth paying attention to.
Because the data from ekincare's From Silence to Signal report (May 2026) tells us most organisations are nowhere near there yet:
26.6% of employees who book a counselling session never show up
58% attend only one session and never return
Nearly 75% hesitate to take mental health leave fearing they'll seem incapable
Gen Z (aged 20–25) recorded a 203% growth in counselling utilisation — they're normalising therapy at work far faster than any other age group.
2️⃣ Labour Codes: No More Waiting
The Four Codes have been legally in force since November 2025. April 1 was the enforcement deadline. There's no waiting it out. Per ipleaders and Sansa Legal:
💸 50% Wage Rule — Basic + DA must be at least 50% of CTC, pushing employer costs up 5–15%
📉 Employees in allowance-heavy structures may see a 2–5% take-home reduction
⏱️ F&F settlement within 2 working days of exit — down from 30–45 days
📅 Fixed-term employees qualify for gratuity after 1 year
Note: As of May 2026, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu still have state rules pending. Pan-India employers need a state-keyed compliance matrix, not a single template.
3️⃣ The Layoff Wave: India Is in the Room
Over 92,000 tech workers lost jobs in the first five months of 2026 — profitable companies restructuring around AI, not struggling ones cutting costs.
Oracle (30,000), Amazon (30,000+), Meta (8,000) — and most relevant for India, Cognizant's "Project Leap" targeting up to 15,000 cuts, majority in India.
For HR:
🔄 Reskilling and internal mobility are survival strategy now, not optional
📣 Retention conversations matter — IT sector employees are watching closely
🤖 If your L&D plan doesn't account for AI displacement, it's already behind
💬 What Was TSOW Community Asking in May
How do you enforce the 48-hour F&F rule without breaking payroll processes?
How do you get employees to actually use mental health benefits — not just know they exist?
With skills scarce, how do you build capability faster than the market moves?
Drop your questions in #general-q&a — our leaders are ready to answer. 💬
🔮 June: What's Coming
📋Form 16 must be issued to all employees by June 15. Don't let this slip
🔍 Labour Code audits beginning — state-level gaps are the first place inspectors look
🧠 Build your mental health infrastructure now, before it becomes a crisis
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🎉 What’s Coming Up!
TSOW HR Meetup in Pune | June 6
An interactive session for HRs who want less theory and more “this worked for us.” Seats are limited save yours now!
TSOW HR Meetup in Surat | June 6
An HR meetup for meaningful dialogue and shared learning.
Get your seat while spots last.TSOW HR Meetup in Noida | June 13
Connect, learn, and grow with Noida HR community. Don’t miss your chance to be in the room!
The TSOW Pulse lands every Tuesday. Got something to share? You know where to find us.
