Cognizant's Core Values and Standards of Business Conduct
Cognizant's Core Values and Standards of Business Conduct Cognizant's Core Values and Standards of Business Conduct
C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A R D SMedia, Analyst and Investor CommunicationsWhy it is ImportantCognizant is committed to delivering accurate and reliable information to the media and market professionals suchas securities analysts, institutional investors, investment advisors, brokers, dealers and security holders.Our CommitmentAs Cognizant Associates, we must:nnRespect the abilities of our public relations and investor relations professionals and promptly forward all requestsfor information to them.Ensure that all public disclosures, including forecasts, press releases, speeches and other communications areaccurate, timely and representative of the facts.We must not:n Intentionally mislead the public in our public disclosures.n Give any investor, broker or financial analyst special or favored treatment.Please note that only AUTHORIZED or DESIGNATED spokespeople from Cognizant may talk to the media, analystsor investors. If you are approached by any media person, analyst or investor please direct those queries to theCommunications Group and DO NOT attempt to provide any information. Please ask the media person to send an e-mail to: cogcomgrp@cognizant.com, and the Communications Group will respond appropriately.Any time you are unsure as to whether you should be addressing a specific outside inquiry you should contactCognizant’s SVP of Marketing (chiefmarketingofficer@cognizant.com) or Chief Financial Officer.Examples of Appropriate and Inappropriate BehaviorDon Seek advice about how to handle media-relatedissuesDo Notn Respond to media inquires when not authorized todo son Provide content for external publications thatcontains direct references to client names, projectnames and other identifying information withoutthe permission of the clientQ&AMedia, Analyst and Investor Communicationsn Question:What should I do if I realize that I inadvertently gave out some information to a member of the press and realizedlater it might not be accurate?n Answer:Contact the SVP of Marketing so he or she can discuss the information with the reporter.35
C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A R D SPolitical ActivitiesWhy it is ImportantCognizant encourages participation in the political process by Cognizant Associates when it is clear that suchactivity is being conducted on an individual basis and not on behalf of the Company. However, it sends mixedmessages to our stockholder when it appears that individuals are trying to influence the political process on behalfof the Company.Our CommitmentAs Cognizant Associates, we must conduct personal political activities on our own time and using personalresources.We must not:nnnnnnnConduct personal political activities on Company time or at Company facilities (in certain countries, political partymeetings at Company facilities may be permitted, if prohibitions of such meetings are illegal).Use Company property or equipment on behalf of a political candidate or cause.Make political contributions or incur political expenditures on behalf of the Company.Obtain reimbursement for any such contributions or expenditures.Make any direct or indirect contributions to political candidates, office holder or any political parties on behalf ofthe Company unless the contribution is legal and directly authorized by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.Force, direct or coerce another Associate into making a political contribution.Make contributions to trade associations or their political action committees where such contributions will bedirectly or indirectly used for political purposes. This includes campaign contributions and lobbying expenses,except for contributions made in connection with the support of legitimate lobbying efforts by trade associationsthat are previously approved by the General Counsel.We also must not lobby the government or other organizations on behalf of Cognizant unless it is explicitly part ofour job to do so.Examples of Appropriate and Inappropriate BehaviorDon Keep personal political activities separate fromprofessional activitiesDo Notn Make copies of political campaign materials onCompany photocopiersn Use Company letterhead when making a personalpolitical donationn Require company personnel to work for a politicalcampaign during work hoursn Advertise in the media for a prospective politicalcandidate under the company logo and name36
- Page 1 and 2: Cognizant’s Core Values andStanda
- Page 3: | Introduction
- Page 6 and 7: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 8 and 9: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 10 and 11: | The Standards
- Page 12 and 13: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 14 and 15: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 16 and 17: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 18 and 19: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 20: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 23 and 24: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 25 and 26: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 27 and 28: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 29 and 30: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 31 and 32: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 33 and 34: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 35: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 39 and 40: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 42 and 43: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 44 and 45: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 46 and 47: | Index
- Page 48 and 49: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
- Page 50: C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A
C O R E VA L U E S A N D S TA N D A R D SPolitical ActivitiesWhy it is ImportantCognizant encourages participation in the political process by Cognizant Associates when it is clear that suchactivity is being conducted on an individual basis <strong>and</strong> not on behalf <strong>of</strong> the Company. However, it sends mixedmessages to our stockholder when it appears that individuals are trying to influence the political process on behalf<strong>of</strong> the Company.Our CommitmentAs Cognizant Associates, we must conduct personal political activities on our own time <strong>and</strong> using personalresources.We must not:nnnnnnn<strong>Conduct</strong> personal political activities on Company time or at Company facilities (in certain countries, political partymeetings at Company facilities may be permitted, if prohibitions <strong>of</strong> such meetings are illegal).Use Company property or equipment on behalf <strong>of</strong> a political c<strong>and</strong>idate or cause.Make political contributions or incur political expenditures on behalf <strong>of</strong> the Company.Obtain reimbursement for any such contributions or expenditures.Make any direct or indirect contributions to political c<strong>and</strong>idates, <strong>of</strong>fice holder or any political parties on behalf <strong>of</strong>the Company unless the contribution is legal <strong>and</strong> directly authorized by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.Force, direct or coerce another Associate into making a political contribution.Make contributions to trade associations or their political action committees where such contributions will bedirectly or indirectly used for political purposes. This includes campaign contributions <strong>and</strong> lobbying expenses,except for contributions made in connection with the support <strong>of</strong> legitimate lobbying efforts by trade associationsthat are previously approved by the General Counsel.We also must not lobby the government or other organizations on behalf <strong>of</strong> Cognizant unless it is explicitly part <strong>of</strong>our job to do so.Examples <strong>of</strong> Appropriate <strong>and</strong> Inappropriate BehaviorDon Keep personal political activities separate frompr<strong>of</strong>essional activitiesDo Notn Make copies <strong>of</strong> political campaign materials onCompany photocopiersn Use Company letterhead when making a personalpolitical donationn Require company personnel to work for a politicalcampaign during work hoursn Advertise in the media for a prospective politicalc<strong>and</strong>idate under the company logo <strong>and</strong> name36
Change language