The temporary sense of relief following the understanding between India and Pakistan on May 10 didn’t last long. As fresh reports of violations by Islamabad surfaced within hours, India Inc refrained from making any immediate changes to employee advisories.
Over the past week, businesses across sectors have been implementing precautionary measures in light of rising geopolitical tensions. From shifting working hours and issuing travel restrictions to activating crisis management protocols, the mood has remained cautious.
Most firms operating in sensitive border regions like Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat have continued to either limit workforce exposure or keep employees at home. Rajeev Juneja, vice-chairman and MD at Mankind Pharma, told Business Standard that the company is awaiting further developments before reviewing internal guidelines. “We have time till May 12 to see how things unfold,” he said. Local administrative advisories, he noted, would guide the next move.
While pharmaceutical supply chains and manufacturing activities remain largely unaffected, sales operations have taken a hit — particularly in the evening hours. “In border towns, clinics are downing shutters by 6 pm. That leaves little room for our sales force to operate in the evenings,” said an executive at a Gujarat-based pharma firm.
Operations at manufacturing hubs like Baddi in Himachal Pradesh are carrying on, but companies are being careful not to lower their guard.
A host of firms have adjusted shift timings and night operations to prioritise safety. Dabur, for instance, has halted night operations at its Jammu facility. “Daytime work continues, but we’re avoiding post-sunset shifts,” a company spokesperson said.
Employees stationed away from home have also been allowed to return to their families for now. Meanwhile, a prominent beverage company with plants in Punjab and Gujarat has tweaked its shift schedules to prevent travel beyond 7 pm — particularly in case of blackouts or security alerts.
Many companies have dusted off their crisis playbooks. In Bengaluru, one company with operations supporting global capability centres has set up a cross-functional emergency team — with members from HR, IT, admin and other departments meeting twice daily to track developments.
Deloitte, for its part, has launched a national command centre hotline for employee support. Staff have been asked to stay alert and follow government protocols.
In North India, IT firms have quietly reintroduced work-from-home (WFH) measures, without making a fuss. “No formal advisories yet — we don’t want to create panic,” said a senior executive at a leading IT services company. But flexible WFH options are back on the table, with regional heads given the authority to take necessary calls.
Some IT clients, concerned about project continuity, have reached out. “For critical tasks that require people onsite, we’re ensuring presence. But otherwise, we are enabling work-from-home,” said another IT leader.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s biggest IT company, issued an internal advisory in light of mock drills initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and local authorities. The advisory, seen by Business Standard, reminded employees to comply with official instructions and keep communication lines open.
