Cognizant asks Indian employees to work three times a week from the office

Cognizant Technology Solutions, a global IT services giant, has joined its Indian counterparts in calling its employees to work from the office three times a week. 

In a recent memo sent by Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S to its employees, the company expects its India-based workforce to return to the office at least thrice a week. This move follows similar directives from other major Indian IT players like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro, who have already mandated employees to return to the office with varying schedules.

Cognizant emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration for activities such as collaborative projects, training, and team-building exercises. The company plans to launch a new hybrid work scheduling app for its India operations, helping managers coordinate schedules and reserve office space for their teams.

Despite the industry trend, Cognizant had increased its employee base by 1,100 in the last quarter of 2022. However, in 2023, the company’s total headcount was reduced by 7,600, with 4,500 employees in India and around 3,000 employees onsite. 

This move comes amid challenges faced by the IT industry, including a slowdown in growth and a struggle to retain quality talent. The industry’s headcount has seen an unusual decline, reaching its lowest point in more than two decades.