IKEA introduces day care benefit for all co-workers in India

Named DAGIS (Swedish for day-care centres), these centres will be located inside IKEA campuses across the country.

IKEA, the Swedish home furnishings company, announced a day-care benefit programme for its co-workers at the upcoming stores in India. The facility was flagged off by Peter Betzel, CEO, IKEA India during an event to celebrate International Women’s Day, held at its Bangalore office.

The centres will be named ‘DAGIS’, which is Swedish for day-care centre, and will be located inside IKEA campuses across the country. The first DAGIS is coming up inside the IKEA store in Hyderabad, which will be thrown open by end of spring. DAGIS will gradually be made available to children of all IKEA co-workers. In line with the Company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and in its endeavour to redefine gender equality, this programme will support co-workers in their roles as parents and professionals.

“Through this endeavour, we will enable co-workers to be more productive and be assured that their children are in safe hands, while they are at work. This will empower women to return to work as well as help men to support their wives/partners to resume work. We believe that equality works better,” says Anna-Carin Månsson, retail country HR manager, IKEA India.

IKEA wants to create an inclusive environment for its co-workers that fits both men and women. Policies are defined to create an inclusive environment for all co-workers in different areas of the business and at different levels of the organisation. It believes in a culture where the value added by each individual is recognised.

IKEA has committed to hiring 50 per cent women co-workers at all levels and job functions in India, and has been implementing various initiatives to achieve the objective.

IKEA, through its many policies, is empowering co-workers with many unique initiatives to create a great place to work, for both men and women. At IKEA India, the focus is on welcoming women co-workers and assisting them to choose optional/flexible work hours that will help them balance their responsibilities at home and work, especially after they return from a sabbatical. They also benefit from equal pay, salary hikes and bonuses so they may support their families well.

IKEA is also planning to secure equal pay for jobs of equal value, globally, by 2020. There are additional benefits for mothers, such as reduced work hours when they are nursing. In case of illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, or premature birth of the child, there are provisions for further support.
The first IKEA India store is scheduled to open in Hyderabad at the end of spring 2018!