HCLTech named among world's most ethical companies

HCLTech has been named one of the 2026 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for the third consecutive year.

The recognition places the technology services company among businesses assessed against ethics and governance measures. Participants must provide more than 240 proof points across areas including ethics and compliance, corporate governance, organisational culture, environmental and social impact, and employee training and awareness.

The award comes as large technology groups face increased scrutiny over governance, internal controls and conduct across international operations. HCLTech employs more than 226,300 people in 60 countries and reported revenue of USD $14.5 billion for the 12 months to December 2025.

Assessment process

Ethisphere describes itself as an organisation focused on standards of ethical business practice. Its annual World's Most Ethical Companies list is based on submitted evidence and review against set criteria, rather than financial performance.

The assessment framework examines ethics and compliance programmes, board and management oversight, workplace culture, and how employees are trained on conduct issues. It also considers environmental and social impact measures.

The recognition is therefore not limited to a single policy area. It reflects how a company documents and applies standards across different parts of the business.

HCLTech said the result reflected how it applies its core values in its work with employees, clients, partners and the wider community. Its operations span financial services, manufacturing, life sciences and healthcare, high tech, semiconductor, telecom and media, retail and consumer goods, mobility, and public services.

Company response

"It is an honor to once again be named as one of Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies, a further testament to our unwavering adherence to our core values and ensuring that all our people operate with the utmost respect and integrity in everything we do," said Olaf Casperson, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer at HCLTech.

Ethisphere also pointed to the broader role of ethics programmes in company performance and decision-making. This year's list marks the 20th class of honourees.

"Congratulations to HCLTech for achieving recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies®. As we mark the 20th class of honorees, this group continues to raise the bar for business integrity by embedding ethics into everyday decision-making and long-term strategy. Companies with strong ethics, compliance, and governance programs are built for better long-term performance," said Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere's Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chair.

Broader context

Recognition for ethics and governance has become a more visible part of corporate reporting, particularly for multinational groups operating across heavily regulated industries and multiple jurisdictions. Investors, customers and employees increasingly expect companies to show how standards are applied in practice, not just set out in policy documents.

Technology companies in particular face a wide range of conduct and governance issues, including supply chain oversight, data handling, the use of artificial intelligence, labour practices, whistleblowing arrangements and anti-corruption controls. For firms with global delivery operations, consistency across local markets can be as important as the standards themselves.

Against that backdrop, external recognition schemes have become one way for companies to show that their internal frameworks have been tested against published criteria. Such schemes are not a substitute for regulatory oversight, but they can provide a benchmark for governance discussions with stakeholders.

HCLTech's latest recognition extends its run to three consecutive years on Ethisphere's list. The assessment covered ethics and compliance, governance, culture of integrity, environmental and social impact, and employee awareness and training.

Its inclusion also comes at a time when many large employers are trying to link corporate values statements to measurable internal processes. In practice, that often means demonstrating board oversight, staff training, reporting channels, investigation procedures and monitoring systems across business units.

For a company of HCLTech's scale, with operations in 60 countries, those issues carry operational as well as reputational weight. Revenue of USD $14.5 billion highlights the size of the organisation being assessed.