Cognizant rubbishes employee-tracking claims, issues detailed clarification

Cognizant has clarified that its use of activity-tracking tools applies only to select client-mandated projects, following questions raised about monitoring practices inside the IT services company. A spokesperson told People Matters that the tools are used in specific Business Process Management or Intuitive Operations & Automation engagements and only with the consent of participating employees.

The company’s statement emphasised that the tracking — a practice it described as common across the industry — is designed to analyse client process steps and time metrics, not evaluate personal performance.

“The purpose of these tools is to help better understand the client process steps and related time metrics to assess process design inefficiencies as part of the process transformation efforts,” the spokesperson said.

The clarification follows reports that some Cognizant teams are using platforms such as ProHance, which record keystrokes, cursor movement and application use to map how time is distributed across workflows. Mint reported that certain devices displayed “idle” status after periods without activity, prompting debate about digital oversight and privacy in hybrid work environments.

Cognizant stressed that the tools are not used for monitoring or rating employees. “These tools are not designed or used to track or evaluate the individual performance of employees,” the spokesperson said, adding that workers are informed about the monitoring and must provide explicit consent. 

The company also rejected suggestions that the tools determine team composition or affect workforce decisions, calling such claims “incorrect.”

Activity-tracking systems have become more visible across India’s IT and BPM sectors as enterprises seek higher process transparency and more predictable delivery for clients. Companies such as Wipro have adopted similar tools, often at the request of customers seeking workflow visibility in distributed teams.

For Cognizant, the challenge now lies in sustaining client-driven operational discipline while maintaining trust with employees at a time when digital monitoring tools are becoming more capable — and more contested.