Cognizant begins using tool to track employee activity, employees marked idle after 5 mins of inactivity

Cognizant

Cognizant has recently introduced a software called ProHance for some of its employees. The tool is designed to monitor how employees spend their time on their laptops during work hours. It keeps track of keyboard and mouse activity, records which applications and websites are used, and can mark workers as “idle” if there’s no activity for five minutes, or “away from system” after 15 minutes.

The software also provides a detailed view of the workday. It logs when employees log in, how long they spend on each task, and even tracks breaks and how time is divided across different activities. On paper, this kind of data can help identify where processes are slowing down and where efficiency can be improved.

However, reports of such close monitoring have raised concerns among employees about privacy and workplace surveillance. Some feel that being tracked so closely could be stressful, even if the company says the tool isn’t being used to evaluate individual performance.

Cognizant, however, has been quick to clarify the purpose of the tool. A spokesperson told TOI that ProHance is used only in select projects, mainly in business process management or automation initiatives, and only at the request of clients. The company said the tool helps teams understand client processes better, highlight inefficiencies, and optimize workflows. Employees are informed about the tool, give consent before it’s implemented, and the data collected is not used for performance reviews or to make staffing decisions.

The company also pointed out that using productivity measurement tools is common in the IT industry. The goal, they said, is not to monitor individual employees, but to analyze processes and improve overall efficiency.

While the reassurance may ease some concerns, the debate over employee monitoring is unlikely to disappear. Tools like ProHance show the tension many workplaces face today—balancing productivity insights with trust and comfort among employees.

For now, Cognizant maintains that the tool is purely about workflow analysis and process optimization. They insist it is a standard industry practice, done transparently and with employee consent, and does not impact individual performance evaluations.