Cognizant found guilty of discriminating non-Indian employees in a decade-old class-action lawsuit

A California court has found Cognizant Technologies Solutions guilty of discrimination against non-Indian employees in a decade-old class-action lawsuit

The jury determined that Cognizant’s practices, particularly regarding hiring, promotions, and terminations, demonstrated a pattern of intentional discrimination against non-South Asian employees based on race and non-Indian employees based on national origin. The court also indicated that the company’s conduct met the criteria for punitive damages. The lawsuit, brought by a Washington, D.C.-based litigation firm, alleged that certain employees were terminated after being placed “on the bench,” a term used in the industry for workers who are temporarily without a project but remain on the payroll.

The plaintiffs claimed that employees who refused to relocate for assignments were particularly targeted. Additionally, the suit accused Cognizant of abusing the H-1B visa process, which is often utilized by the tech industry to hire foreign workers, predominantly from India. The H-1B visa has sparked political debate, with critics arguing it has been misused to displace U.S. workers, while proponents assert that it is essential for bringing skilled talent to the U.S. Cognizant has stated its intention to appeal the verdict, asserting that its employment policies were not discriminatory and aligned with business needs. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions in the tech industry regarding workforce diversity and the use of visa programs.