Cognizant Technology Solutions: Retaining Employees Amid Impending Crises

Cognizant Technology Solutions (Cognizant) was a multinational corporation that operated in the information technology (IT) services sector and provided consulting and business process outsourcing services to its clients. As the world fell into the clutches of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company faced a series of challenges, through 2020 and into the start of 2021, that rocketed its employee attrition rates to an all-time high while also affecting revenue. During early 2021, the company was faced with the herculean task of retaining employees in the face of uncertainty and an extremely competitive market, even if this meant putting a dent in the company’s cash reserves. Cognizant had to determine how to build a better employee value proposition and develop initiatives to both retain and regain employees. Were the measures it had taken sufficient? Amid the scare of the pandemic and the war raging in India for talent, would Cognizant need a more robust human resources (HR) plan? Would it need to improve its measures for promoting the well-being of employees? Was the company too focused on performance and the bottom line?

This case is suitable for graduate-level courses in subjects such as HR planning, strategic HR management, and rewards and recognition. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to do the following:<ul><li>Understand workforce planning and outline the factors that affect employee attrition in organizations.</li><li>Discuss the connection between an organization’s strategic goals and management of its human resources.</li><li>Assess the effectiveness of the initiatives taken for retaining employees, and devise alternative solutions.</li></ul>

• Human Resource Planning
• Employee Retention
• Crisis Management
• Employee Attrition
• Strategic HRM