Satyam calls back 400 staff from virtual pool

In relief to the Satyam employees, about 400 people who were asked to sit on the virtual bench have been called back into the company.

According to sources, nearly, 380 employees, who were on the virtual pool, were asked to join back the company.

Earlier, Tech Mahindra, the new owner of trouble-torn Satyam, had identified and put 8,000-10,000 surplus employees of the IT firm under a programme called -- virtual pool -- where in an employee is paid part of the salary and retained on job.

The move is aimed at cutting staff costs, while retaining talent.

Effective from this month, the programme is applicable on those based in India and allows the associates to take time off from work on a reduced pay structure while they continue to retain their employment. Under, the programme they were paid basic salary, provident fund and medical insurance.

It is designed to cover associates who have not been in billable roles for three months or more and includes support resources.

However, Tech Mahindra CEO Vineet Nayyar had said they (employees on the virtual pool) can be called back when required as regular employees.