“We’ve been told to stop running the race and prepare for the marathon that lies ahead,” says Manish, a Tech Mahindra employee. “Though we are obviously excited at the prospect of the acquisition, we are also concerned about the fallout in terms of absorption of Satyam employees.”

Talks in Tech Mahindra campus range from it having raised Rs 275 crore via short-term debt for the takeover, the regulatory approval to acquire the beleaguered company still awaited and what it will be like to be physically swamped by a huge number of Satyam staffers.

“I’m feeling a bit insecure. First, Satyam is a huge company and with recession already on and so many more employees coming in, it makes matters tougher,” says Preeti, from the city Tech Mahindra campus. “If the economy looks up over the next year, it’ll be good news for us; if not, then things might not be that rosy,” she sums up the feeling of many others.

While Tech Mahindra’s expertise lies in telecom, Satyam is more diversified, with interests in banking, finance, SAP and telecom. Ankit, who recently joined Tech Mahindra, says the ‘fear factor’ for most employees is that Satyam staffers will be ready to work at lesser pay. “This adds to the apprehension about job prospects,” he says.

However, not all are nervous. Meenal, a staffer at Pune, is convinced that Satyam being a big name its merger with Tech Mahindra will make her company a market leader soon. “It will give us scope to diversify and better exposure,” she says.

Prasenjit Roy, spokesperson for Tech Mahindra, says it was too early to comment. “We would not like to say anything, as the deal is awaiting the approval from the Company Law Board,” he says.

(Names of Tech Mahindra employees changed)