A recent survey has revealed a significant disparity between rhetoric and action in gender-diversity initiatives in corporate India. The ‘Women in India (WIIn) HR Managers Survey’ report, unveiled at the Women in India Inc. Summit on 22 February, 2024, sheds light on the challenges faced by women in the corporate sector.
The study involved 200 senior human resource managers across various sectors including FMCG, Pharma, Retail, IT/ITeS and BFSI.
The report highlighted that 34 per cent of women exit firms due to work-life balance issues, while only four per cent of men face the same challenge. It also underscores a significant gap between rhetoric and action in gender-diversity initiatives, despite 73 per cent of Indian organisations setting gender-diversity goals. Shockingly, only 21 per cent of these firms have supporting strategies in place.
The report further highlighted that although 55 per cent of firms set goals for women’s advancement, only 37 per cent actively tackle gender imbalances in hiring. Additionally, legal- compliance gaps were also exposed, with 59 per cent of firms lacking mandatory internal complaints committees, 37 per cent failing to provide maternity leave benefits, and a mere 17.5 per cent offering childcare facilities.
Another concerning aspect revealed by the survey is the impact of career breaks on women’s selection chances, diminishing by 24 percentage points. The gender bias in hiring was brought to light, emphasising the need for systemic changes.
Despite commendable efforts such as mixed-gender interview panels (48 per cent) and gender-neutral job descriptions (52 per cent), the study revealed the under-prioritisation of training for hiring managers crucial for gender diversity (30 per cent).
To address the issues, the report highlighted the necessity for fundamental change in corporate attitudes towards gender diversity, emphasising the role of employers in attracting and retaining women in formal paid work.