There are many who are working on bonds and for them the uncertainty and confusion are agonising. “Many of my colleagues are keeping their fingers crossed. And we are getting assurances from top officials that the new management will take care of Satyam. So I don’t know what to do,” says Divya, who joined the company on a bond.

“There is no job assurance. They will do what they have to do. The safety factor is not there,” says Aniket, who has been with Satyam for four years. “We are a team of 25, and all of us have shot off CVs to other firms,” says Suryansh.

Few have got calls from prospective employers. Some placement agencies had called for details, but nothing much happened. “Even credit card companies, when they call, hang up when they realise we are from Satyam,” says Rahul.

Deepak Shikharpur, president, Computer Society of India, said: “A few people from the company had come to see me and they were worried whether they would even get the January salary as the former CEO has said the company has no cash. Plus most customers are moving away — they are wary of doing business with Satyam anymore. All these show that every one of the 53,000 employees of Satyam will be affected, only the degree will vary.”

A Satyam spokeswoman in Hyderabad said it was business as usual at all its centres. “The message from Satyam CEO Ram Maynampati assuring that everything will be put in order has been passed to every employee. The new team will take care of the situation and there is no need to panic,” she said.

... contd.