Hyderabad IT Professional Files Formal Complaint Against MNC Over Excessive Work Hours
In a significant development that has brought the spotlight back on working conditions in India's technology sector, a former employee of a major multinational corporation has lodged a formal complaint with the Telangana labour department. The complainant, Sridhar Merugu, has accused his previous employer of forcing him to work intermittently for more than 16 hours per day throughout his 14-year tenure with the company.
Allegations of Unpaid Overtime and Labour Law Violations
Sridhar Merugu, a 45-year-old IT professional, has detailed multiple violations in his complaint to the authorities. According to his submission, the MNC consistently pushed him to work extended hours without providing appropriate overtime compensation. "It is impossible to physically or mentally work for so many hours. Also, when companies charge clients by the hour, why shouldn't employees be paid accordingly?" Merugu questioned in his statement to the media.
The complainant further alleged that the company denied him legitimate shift allowances for late-night (8 pm to 4 am) and early-morning (4 am to 8 pm) work periods, which constitutes a clear violation of established labour regulations. Merugu revealed that during particularly demanding periods, "For about 3 to 4 months, I was forced to work continuously for more than 16 hours a day due to a shortage of resources. I was paid no overtime."
Termination Following Grievance Raising
The situation escalated when Merugu formally raised the issue of unpaid overtime with his employer. According to his account, the tech giant dismissed his request for overtime wages and subsequently terminated his services in September 2025. "Instead of addressing my grievances, they laid me off within a week of me raising the issue," Merugu stated, asserting that his termination was directly linked to his refusal to continue working under what he described as "unlawful conditions."
Following the dismissal, Merugu has approached not only the Telangana labour department but also the National Human Rights Commission, seeking intervention in his case. His primary demands include clearance of pending overtime dues along with statutory interest and penalties from the US-based corporation.
Broader Industry Context and Nationwide Debate
This complaint arrives amid an ongoing nationwide conversation about optimal working hours for India's workforce, particularly the youth. The debate gained momentum following remarks by Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy advocating for a 72-hour work week as the new norm for ambitious professionals.
Industry veterans in Hyderabad have confirmed that exceeding the standard 40-hour work week has become an unwritten norm across the IT sector. Santosh Kumar, an IT employee with nearly three decades of experience, observed, "Working even on weekends and holidays without pay became very common, especially post the pandemic. Be it management, team leaders or employees, everyone knows this but chooses to turn a blind eye."
Work Culture Deterioration and Systemic Issues
Multiple IT professionals have echoed concerns about deteriorating work conditions in the industry. Kumar further noted that companies increasingly pressure employees to work overtime, often indirectly threatening termination for non-compliance while citing resource shortages or budgetary constraints. "Many are working for over 18 hours a day. The work culture has deteriorated, and there is no job security," he lamented.
C Vinod Kumar, president of the Forum for IT Employees, highlighted how the work-from-home culture has exacerbated these problems. "The concept of overtime pay has practically disappeared. Companies now expect employees to take client calls even at midnight, following US or UK time zones, and work through weekends," he explained. He characterized statements by industry leaders advocating 70-72 hour work weeks as reflective of "a capitalist mindset with little concern for employees' work-life balance."
New Labour Codes and Regulatory Changes
Representatives from the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) have pointed to recent regulatory developments that might address these systemic issues. Phani Pattamatta, chief operating officer of HYSEA, acknowledged that overtime and extra working hours were not effectively regulated in the past but expressed optimism about new labour codes implemented in November 2025.
"There may be some older, individual cases. However, going forward, ambiguous practices such as overtime without pay will be streamlined, and such issues are unlikely to recur," Pattamatta stated. He noted that changes are already becoming visible, with several companies reporting increased employee costs in recent quarterly results following the implementation of the new regulations. "These anomalies will be regulated, and employees will be adequately compensated," he assured.
The case of Sridhar Merugu serves as a critical test for these new labour codes and their effectiveness in protecting employee rights in India's rapidly evolving technology sector. As the complaint progresses through official channels, it continues to fuel important conversations about workplace ethics, employee welfare, and corporate responsibility in contemporary India.
