Remote & Hybrid Work Policy

At TheManki (Sanam Designs Wallah – Manki Space), we build digital products for businesses across India, and we believe good work can happen from many places. This policy explains how remote and hybrid work operates here — what you can expect from us, what we expect from you, and the few non-negotiables that keep client data safe and projects on track. It applies to all employees, interns and long-term contractors unless your offer letter or a separate agreement says otherwise. Effective 17 June 2026.

1. 01. Eligibility & Work Modes

   We support three ways of working, and your role, team and stage of tenure decide which applies to you. Your reporting manager confirms your mode in writing, and it can change as projects and performance evolve.

   • Fully remote: You work from a location of your choice within India, with occasional travel to the office or a client site when needed.
   • Hybrid: You split time between a TheManki workspace and a remote location, typically with a fixed number of in-office days agreed with your manager.
   • Office-based: Some roles (for example, certain client-facing, hardware or in-person delivery roles) are primarily on-site.

   New joiners usually start in a hybrid or office-based mode for their first few weeks so they can ramp up, meet the team and learn how we work, before moving to fuller remote arrangements where the role allows.

   Remote and hybrid work is a privilege tied to trust and consistent delivery, not a permanent entitlement. We may pause or adjust an individual's arrangement — with reasonable notice and a clear explanation — if deliverables slip, if a project demands closer collaboration, or if a client contract requires on-site presence.

   • Your primary work location must be in India and must have a stable internet connection and a reasonably quiet, private space for calls.
   • You must be reachable on our agreed channels during your working hours.
   • If you want to work from a new city or a long-stay location, tell your manager in advance so we can sort out tax, attendance and connectivity expectations.

2. 02. Working Hours & Availability

   Our standard working week is Monday to Friday, with a defined set of core hours when everyone is expected to be available for meetings, quick questions and collaboration. Your team's exact core hours and any rotation will be confirmed by your manager, and most teams align around the late morning to late afternoon window in Indian Standard Time (IST).

   • Core hours: Be online and responsive on calls and chat during the core hours set for your team.
   • Flexible hours: Outside core hours you have reasonable flexibility to organise your day, as long as your work and meetings are covered.
   • Total hours: We measure contribution by outcomes and a normal full working day, not by counting hours or screen time.

   If you will be away from your desk for an extended block during working hours — a break, an errand, a doctor's visit — set your status and let your team know, the same as you would by stepping out of an office.

   For clients in other time zones, some roles may need occasional early or late calls. We try to keep these predictable and shared fairly across the team, and we expect you to balance them with rest elsewhere in your week.

   Mark planned leave in our system in advance and update your calendar and status. If you are unwell or have an emergency, message your manager as early as you reasonably can so work can be covered.

3. 03. Communication & Collaboration

   When we are not in the same room, clear communication is what holds the work together. The default at TheManki is to over-communicate a little: write things down, share context, and keep others unblocked.

   • Use our official tools for work: company chat for day-to-day conversation, video calls for discussions and reviews, and our project/task tracker for status and deliverables.
   • Keep work conversations on company channels, not personal WhatsApp or DMs, so context stays searchable and nothing important is lost when someone is away.
   • Respond to messages within a reasonable time during working hours — a quick acknowledgement is fine if you need longer to answer fully.
   • Default to writing async updates so colleagues across different schedules can follow along without waiting for a live call.

   Be present and prepared on video calls: camera on for team and client meetings where practical, a workable background and audio, and joined on time. Mute when you are not speaking.

   Treat client communication with extra care. Follow the agreed point of contact and tone for each client, never share internal-only discussions externally, and loop in your manager before making commitments on scope, timelines or pricing.

4. 04. Equipment, Internet & Workspace

   We want you set up to do good work safely. Depending on your role and arrangement, TheManki will either provide a company device or approve the use of a personal device that meets our security baseline.

   • Company-provided equipment remains TheManki property and must be returned in good condition when you leave or when asked. Use it primarily for work and keep it secure.
   • If you use a personal device for work, it must meet our security requirements (see the Data Security section) and have current, supported software.
   • You are responsible for arranging a reliable broadband or mobile internet connection adequate for video calls and uploads. Where the company has agreed an internet or connectivity allowance for your role, the amount and process will be confirmed in writing.

   Set up a workspace that lets you concentrate and take calls without constant interruption. You do not need a fancy home office, but you do need a spot where confidential client information cannot be seen or overheard by others.

   Report any loss, theft, damage or malfunction of work equipment to your manager and to mayank@themanki.com as soon as you notice it, so we can protect data and arrange a replacement.

5. 05. Data Security When Working Remotely

   We handle our clients' business data, customer records and systems, so security is not optional when we work away from the office. As an Indian company, we are guided by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) and the Information Technology Act, 2000, and these rules apply to everyone, on every device.

   • Protect every device used for work with a strong password or PIN, an automatic screen lock, full-disk encryption where available, and up-to-date operating system and security software.
   • Connect through secure networks. Avoid working on sensitive client data over open public Wi-Fi (cafes, airports); use a trusted connection or the company VPN/access tools where provided.
   • Use company-approved accounts and tools for work. Do not move client or company data into personal email, personal cloud drives, or unapproved AI tools.
   • Apply least access: only access the client data and systems you need for your task, and never share your logins. Use multi-factor authentication wherever it is offered.
   • Lock your screen whenever you step away, and make sure family members or others at your location cannot see, hear or use confidential information.

   If you suspect a data breach, a lost device, a phishing attempt, or that client data may have been exposed, treat it as urgent. Report it immediately to your manager and to mayank@themanki.com / +91 70022 08642 — fast reporting helps us contain the issue and meet our legal obligations. Trying to hide a mistake is far more serious than the mistake itself.

6. 06. Productivity, Deliverables & Performance

   We trust people to manage their own time, and we keep that trust by being clear about what is expected and honest about progress. Your performance is judged on the quality, reliability and impact of your work — not on how visibly busy you appear online.

   • Keep your tasks and tickets in the project tracker current, so anyone can see what you are working on, what is done, and what is blocked.
   • Share short, regular updates (for example a brief end-of-day or weekly note) so your manager and team have visibility without having to chase you.
   • Raise blockers and slipping timelines early. A heads-up two days before a deadline is useful; a surprise on the deadline is not.
   • Meet agreed deadlines and quality standards, and ask for help when a task is larger or harder than expected.

   Managers will hold regular one-to-ones and reviews to give feedback, set goals and support your growth. If output or responsiveness becomes a concern, your manager will discuss it with you directly and agree a clear plan to improve before any change to your work arrangement is considered.

7. 07. Expense Reimbursement

   Where you incur genuine, work-related costs because of how you work, we reimburse them fairly and reasonably. Reimbursements and allowances are subject to your role, prior approval where required, and applicable Indian tax rules.

   • Pre-approval: Get your manager's approval before incurring any non-routine expense (for example equipment, software, or travel) so there are no surprises.
   • Internet/connectivity: Where an internet or remote-work allowance has been agreed for your role, it will be paid as confirmed in writing.
   • Travel to office or client sites: Reasonable travel for required in-person work is reimbursable as per the company travel norms.
   • Not covered: General household bills, personal subscriptions, regular commuting to your assigned base location, and any expense without prior approval or a valid bill are not reimbursed.

   Submit claims promptly with valid bills or invoices (GST invoice where applicable) through the agreed process, and within the timelines we communicate. We aim to process approved claims with your regular payroll cycle. If you are unsure whether something is reimbursable, ask before you spend.

8. 08. In-Person Expectations

   Remote-first does not mean never-in-person. Some moments simply work better face to face, and being part of TheManki means showing up for those when asked, with reasonable notice.

   • Client meetings, workshops, kick-offs and go-lives where your presence adds value or is required by the client.
   • Team planning sessions, quarterly reviews, training, and onboarding of new joiners.
   • Occasional team gatherings and offsites that keep us connected as a company.
   • Any period where a project or client contract specifically requires on-site work.

   We will give you as much notice as we reasonably can for planned in-person commitments, and we will be considerate of travel time and personal circumstances. If attending in person is genuinely difficult for you on a given date, tell your manager early so we can plan around it.

   If your role is hybrid with set in-office days, treat those days as fixed commitments and plan personal matters around them, the same as you would any scheduled meeting.

9. 09. Questions, Exceptions & Escalation

   This policy is meant to give you clarity and freedom, not to trip you up. Most situations can be sorted out with a quick conversation with your manager — they are your first point of contact for day-to-day questions, mode changes, scheduling and approvals.

   If something cannot be resolved with your manager, if you need a formal exception to this policy, or if you want to raise a concern about how it is being applied, reach out to the company directly.

   • Email: mayank@themanki.com
   • Phone / WhatsApp: +91 70022 08642

   For anything involving a suspected data breach, lost device or exposed client information, do not wait — contact mayank@themanki.com / +91 70022 08642 straight away. We may update this policy from time to time as the company and our ways of working evolve, and we will let you know when we do.