U.S. court rules Cognizant guilty of discriminating against non-Indians: Key details on the landmark case

Recently, a U.S. district court ruled that Cognizant Technology Solutions was guilty of deliberately discriminating against non-Indian employees. While the company, according to a spokesperson quoted by Moneycontrol, plans to appeal the decision "at the appropriate time," this case has raised broader concerns. It comes at a time when other companies, like Tim Hortons, are also facing accusations of hiring bias favouring Indian workers. So, what exactly is the case against Cognizant, and why is it drawing so much attention?

This court case goes back to a decade-long class-action lawsuit based on a complaint filed by a Washington, DC-based law firm on behalf of employees who claimed they faced discrimination for not being Indian.

According to the court, the plaintiffs demonstrated that Cognizant had a pattern of intentionally discriminating against non-South Asian and non-Indian employees, leading to their dismissal from the company.

The lawsuit also accused the Teaneck-based company of misusing the H-1B visa program, which allows companies like Cognizant and other IT firms to hire skilled workers from abroad for specialised jobs in the U.S.

Credit: Canva | Representational image

The H-1B visa has become a much debated topic in US politics with some arguing that it¡¯s being used to replace American workers with foreign ones.

A spokesperson for Cognizant expressed disappointment with the ruling, stating that the company plans to challenge it through an appeal.

The spokesperson emphasised that Cognizant is committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees, fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and has the chance to succeed.

Interestingly, Tim Hortons, a popular Canadian restaurant chain, recently faced criticism from a Canadian woman who claimed that hiring practices at her workplace unfairly favored Indian immigrants.

Also read: Canadian woman fired from Tim Hortons after calling out management for hiring only Indians

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