US headquartered Cognizant Technology Solutions has pushed back pay hikes salaries and promotions by three months on the back of visa curbs and IT stress.While details on promotions are shared with employees by June every year, the email has come as a surprise to employees who were prepared for no promotions this year.In an email (seen by TOI) sent to employees from Jim Lennox, CTS's chief people officer, said revisions and promotions will be effective from October 1.Here's what it broadly says1) Associates up to level of manager will receive a percentage increase to their base pay as in previous years, senior managers and above will now receive a lumpsum payout vis a vis an increased salary every month, apart from their performance linked bonuses.2) Promotions for associates up to level of VP will be announced soon and will be effective October first.3) Details on promotions for senior VP and higher will be shared separately. Lennox goes on to say that 2017 has seen a good start and while macro environment factors cannot be controlled, what can be controlled are their executions against macro shifts, driving value to clients and differentiating themselves in the marketplace.4) This communication also comes amidst allegations made by employees that some of them were forced to resign. This forced CTS President Rajeev Mehta, to email employees last month that the company has not laid off employees.5) For the first time in its history, CTS rolled out a voluntary separation scheme for D+ executives in a bid to help associates who are seeking to make a change in their careers.Cognizant has been on the receiving end of bad press in India after several employees alleged 'forced' termination. IT unions have even petitioned before labour dept in several states demanding a resolution on the matter.Cognizant President Rajeev Mehta had written to employees to address concerns over reports of massive layoffs at the company. In an email accessed by ET NOW, Mehta had told employees: 'Cognizant has not done any layoffs. Each year, in line with industry best practices, we conduct performance reviews to reflect on the work of last year and ensure goals for the subsequent year are clear. We are being committed to being a meritocracy. We believe that's good for all associates around the world'.The management also denied speculations that such measures are being undertaken to allow more hiring in the US. 'We continue to hire in local markets around the world. We have been ramping up our recruiting efforts in US for a number of years and will continue to do so while hiring in most other parts of the world including India', the letter said.Cognizant employs over 2,62,000 people globally of which over 1,50,000 are in India.with TOI inputs