Cognizant Technology Solutions

Cognizant Technology Solutions received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2). The company integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2022 ESG report: “we, the more than 330,000 associates of Cognizant, are passionately committed to embedding sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, governance) into our thinking, decisions and actions” (3). And: “In 2021, we [Cognizant] announced the goal of reaching net zero emissions. This commitment is shaping our culture, facilities management, energy sourcing, supply chain and travel policy, along with the equipment and technologies we use in our offices and data centers” (4). Cognizant promotes divisive sex and gender policies. Its Supplier Code of Conduct requires international vendors to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy (5). However, the company has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (6).

Cognizant’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). The company does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations based on views or beliefs (3).

Cognizant Technology Solutions has been found liable for racial discrimination against employees: “the jury concluded, based on statistical evidence presented at trial, that Cognizant engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination by terminating non-Indian and non-South Asian employees at a much higher rate than its other employees (8.4 times more likely)” (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (4)(5). Cognizant offers unconscious bias training to its employees (6). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment and leadership composition. From its 2021 ESG report: “Recruiting racial and ethnic diversity[:] in the US In an effort to recruit women, Black, Latinx and other diverse individuals, our US recruiting team sponsored numerous career fairs in 2021, including: the Forte, the Black in Technology x Techqueria Virtual Career Fair, Codepath, the National Center for Women in Information Technology, HackerRank, NBMBAA conference and the D&I Job Fair Event in New York City” (7). And, from its 2020 ESG report: “With a sharpened focus on global gender diversity in our leadership pipeline, Cognizant pledged to put 1,000 high‑performing women in leadership levels through Propel – our signature women’s global leadership development initiative – by the end of 2021” (8).

Cognizant’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company’s CEO Ravi Kumar is a member of the Business Roundtable and former CEO Brian Humphries signed the Business Roundtable’s 2019 Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders (3)(4). Cognizant is aligned with the Paris Agreement, which entails a commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (5). The company supports DEI within its business practices, employing a DEI officer (6)(7). Cognizant supports DEI within its business practices. From its 2020 ESG report: “Embedding diversity at a leadership level At Cognizant, we are committed to building diverse leadership teams that embed the imperative of inclusive management in their work, and drive positive change throughout the business” (8). Also, from its news page: “At the Cognizant U.S. Foundation, we have long recognized the failure of our systems, institutions, and communities in addressing our country’s longstanding history of systemic racism—and we are committed to addressing these barriers… We stand in solidarity in the fight for racial justice and equity—and look forward to a brighter future ahead” (9).

Cognizant’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). Cognizant donated $5,000,000.00 to BLM related causes “to serve communities of color” (3)(4). Between 2018 and 2025, Cognizant donated more than $7,000,000 to causes promoting DEI (5)(6)(7)(8). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (9).

Cognizant’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company has not used its PAC donations or lobbying for ideological purposes (3)(4)(5).