Global Harassment,Discrimination & Workplace
Bullying Prevention Policy
Key Definitions

Legally Protected
Characteristics: specificaspects, characteristics or any
other status protected byapplicable national or local law
Work Environment: location
where someone works or is
performing work duties or any
location the company deems to
be a Work Environment (i.e.,client office, restaurants, andareas surrounding the officebuilding); includes virtual work
arrangements

Related Policies andProcesses• Code of Ethics• Human Rights Policy• Whistleblower and NonRetaliation Policy• External Communication andSocial Media Policy• Ethics & Compliance Training
PolicyObjective

At Cognizant, we take great pride in creating an environment where everyone
can thrive, feel safe and be included. That means that we must treat eachother with dignity, fairness and respect. We must value everyone’s uniquecontribution and promote an inclusive Work Environment. This creates diverse
teams and a workplace where everyone can bring their whole selves to workand belong.
To achieve the above objective, this policy articulates our collective
responsibility to work as one and create a Work Environment that is free ofany behavior which could be interpreted or perceived as Harassment,Discrimination and Bullying.

Scope

All Cognizant Associates are expected to comply with this Policy, which isdesigned to promote compliance with our Code of Ethics and local laws
throughout our operations. This includes all directors, officers, and employeesof Cognizant entities, subsidiaries and joint ventures over which Cognizant
has operational control, in the course of employment, virtually or in-person(collectively “Associates”). Cognizant expects the same high standards ofbehavior from its suppliers, business partners, contract workforce and anyother visitors. If there is a concern, we will refer the same to their respective
employer.

Guiding Principles

Cognizant will not tolerate any conduct that violates this policy or permit
Discrimination, Harassment, retaliation, Bullying, and any actions that are
unlawful or pertain to Legally Protected Characteristics in countries or regions
where we operate.
In addition to complying with the standards set out in this policy, Associates
are expected to behave consistent with Cognizant’s Code of Ethics, HumanRights Policy, Whistleblower and Non-Retaliation Policy, and ExternalCommunication & Social Media Policy, the company’s regional and country
policies on the topics of Harassment, Discrimination, and Bullying, and local
laws and regulations, including situations where a specific circumstance is not
explicitly defined within this policy. If local law imposes stricter requirements
than those described in this policy, we must comply with the local
requirements.

© 2021 Cognizant
Confidential or Trade Secret

Discrimination
We never discriminate against a person’s Legally Protected Characteristics,
such as race, color, religion, gender identity, pregnancy, age, national origin,sexual orientation, marital status, disability status, veteran status or freedomof association including political affiliations and union memberships, when we
make employment decisions including recruiting, hiring, training, promotion,termination, or providing other terms and conditions of employment. The legal
Global Harassment, Discrimination & Workplace Bullying Prevention Policy

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definition of Discrimination varies based on local law. For purposes of this policy, Discrimination is definedas treating a person or group of people differently, or less favorably because of a Legally Protected
Characteristic.
Actions or behavior that could be interpreted or perceived as discriminatory will not be tolerated, including,but is not limited to:• discouraging someone from applying for a role because of their gender or gender identity, martial
or parental status• basing a promotion decision on an Associate’s gender or race
• assigning work tasks based on individual’s gender or religious caste
Harassment
The legal definition of Harassment varies based on local law. For purposes of this policy, Harassment,including Sexual Harassment, is defined as unwanted conduct based on a Legally Protected
Characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating,hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.
Actions or behavior that could be interpreted or perceived as harassing will not be tolerated, including,but is not limited to:•threatening and intimidating behavior of any kind•participating in hostile acts
•initiating or engaging in offensive communications•using jokes, comments, slurs, epithets, stories, questions, stereotyping, and disparaging
comments towards an individual, characteristic or group of people•displaying or sharing offensive material
Sexual Harassment can be sexual in nature or based on a person’s real or perceived gender, gender
identity or sexual orientation. Local law may further define Sexual Harassment. Actions or behavior that
could be interpreted or perceived as Sexual Harassment will not be tolerated, including, but is not limitedto:• initiating or engaging in offensive communications• using jokes, comments, stories, questions and stereotyping• engaging in unwanted touching of any kind or invasion of personal space• flirting or pursuing someone persistently against their will
• whistling; leering; improper gestures; offensive, derogatory or degrading remarks• making graphic comments about another person’s body• playing gender or sex-based pranks• initiating quid pro quo, or “this for that”, demands for sexual favors as a condition of employment
or in exchange for favorable or preferential treatment
Workplace Bullying
Bullying is repeated harmful or mean-spirited, targeted behavior, which is not necessarily based on aLegally Protected Characteristic that is objectively intimidating, threatening, or humiliating to the target.
Local law may further define Bullying. Actions or behavior that could objectively be interpreted orperceived as Workplace Bullying include, but are not limited to:• participating in public ridicule, written or verbal• intentionally sabotaging the work of another• shouting, yelling or other aggressive communication, both written and verbal• publicly shaming© 2021 Cognizant
Confidential or Trade Secret

Global Harassment, Discrimination & Workplace Bullying Prevention Policy

Page 2 of 3••••using offensive nicknames
pushing, shoving, kicking, poking, and tripping
assaulting or threatening assault, including making intimidating gestures
inflicting intentional and targeted damage to another person’s personal property or work area

Supervisors, managers or others should act on behalf of the company in a respectful, professionalmanner in accordance with company policies and procedures. As such, Harassment and Workplace
Bullying does not include:• providing feedback and direction, critiquing performance or work product and conducting
performance reviews, and issuing counseling or disciplinary action when necessary• being part of disagreements, conflicts, or misunderstandings that are managed in a respectful
and professional manner• engaging in mutually agreeable interactions that don’t impact the Work Environment or other
Associates in a negative way

Disciplinary Consequences

Subject to local laws and regulations, a violation of this policy could result in disciplinary action, up to andincluding termination. If you witness or are the victim of an act of violence, intimidation, the threat ofviolence, abuse, physical retaliation or other threatening behavior; or are aware of a violation of thispolicy, you have an obligation to report it to the Company. As stated in Cognizant’s Whistleblower andNon-Retaliation Policy, Cognizant does not tolerate retaliation against any individual who submits a goodfaith report of a violation or possible violation of law, the Code of Ethics, or other Cognizant policies.
To report a possible violation of this policy, visit Cognizant’s Compliance Helpline (a secure andconfidential reporting system) at: www.cognizant.com/compliance-helpline.
Under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013(POSH), India based Associates may report Sexual Harassment through their location based POSHCommittee. For more details please refer to the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.

Version History
Revision Date
AUG-25-2021

Description of Change
Initial Release

Policy Control Information

Policy Name: Global Harassment, Discrimination & Workplace Bullying Prevention Policy
Department: Human Resources
Revision Date:
Policy Owner: Becky Schmitt, Chief People Officer
Effective Date: AUG-25-2021© 2021 Cognizant
Confidential or Trade Secret

Global Harassment, Discrimination & Workplace Bullying Prevention Policy

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