Looking for Some Women Friendly Work Environments? Here are Some Companies You Could Consider
Unfortunately, Indian culture is deep rooted in patriarchy and men have been at the forefront of everything. But there are also some beautiful examples of how women gradually rebelled and fought for their place in the society. While this is an ongoing battle, companies are trying their best to better the situation of women in the workforce by implementing policies that are best for their women employees.
We’re not strangers to the fact that gender equality plays a major role in both education and professional organizations. Companies that adapt policies and cultures that create a positive environment for women at work are held in high esteem. The 2018 Study by Avtar group shows lower attrition rate of women compared to men, at all levels in the corporate hierarchy. More and more companies in India make amends to maintain a decorum ensuring healthy and safe work cultures for women. This change in the outlook has brought a huge effect on the professional front, giving women a balanced work life and equal opportunities to pursue their desired careers.
Here are a few companies that are best suited for women to work in India. We’ve shortlisted them based on – their recruiting practices and retaining efforts, flexibility of working hours, maternity policies, parental benefits, number of women employees across the corporate ladder, attrition rates of female employees, return policies, harassment policies and intolerance.
Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with its largest employee base in India. Nearly 40% of the company’s total employees are in India. Women represent more than 40% of their workforce and 23% of their managing directors in India. They strive to provide high paying jobs for women, a good work environment and support to develop their careers. They promote gender-neutral restrooms and safe environment for transgender workforce. Accenture Vaahini is a networking forum for women initiated to help professional women learn, share and empower themselves.
Cummins India Ltd
Cummins India is one of the leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of diesel and alternative fuel engines, generators and related technologies. Cummins India has more than 10,000 employees with more than 40% of female employees in their work-force. Cummins India established Cummins Engineering College for Women and believe it is their corporate responsibility to educate and empower women.
Sandvik Group
Sandvik is a global engineering group with 40,000 employees of which 21% are female. They constantly focus on expanding their female employee ratio and actively promote diversity and inclusion of female employees in the industry. Their supplier code of conduct and code of conduct prohibits discrimination against women and have adopted policies to strengthen empowerment of women. They initiated Sandvik India Gender Awards to support gender equality and diversity to change the social and educational areas.
Ernst and Young
Ernst and Young is a British company that provides consulting, assurance, tax and transaction services to capital markets. The company has about 50,000 people working in India. They launched Career Watch, a well-crafted sponsor programme to encourage and nurture high performing women candidates for leadership roles. They also have a few programs like LGBTplus allies’ network, Unconscious Bias and Inclusive Leadership workshops ReWrite, mentoring on Maternity (MOM)along with a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment. Adoptive mothers have been provided with benefits similar to maternity benefits like 26 weeks of paid leaves.
Managed Remote Solutions (MARS) by SHEROES
Managed Remote Solutions (MARS) by Sheroes is known to provide remote jobs with reputed remote work companies in India. They offer both part time and permanent or long-term jobs in various fields like customer service, sales and lead generation, content creation, travel and insurance sales. These are great opportunities for women who want to restart their career post marriage or pregnancy and can work from the comfort of their homes.
Tech Mahindra
Tech Mahindra is an Indian multinational technology company that provides IT and business process outsourcing services. They focus on hiring minimum 50% of women across India and a minimum of 30% lateral hiring consists of women. They do not encourage gender discrimination in the company.
The ‘All Women Tech Mahindra SMART Healthcare Academy’ for women ensures good education and job opportunities in the healthcare industry.
Intel
Intel is an American multinational corporation and technology that develops processors and microprocessors for computers and is known to be the world's highest valued semiconductor chip manufacturer. They have around 25% women of a total 6,000 employees working in India.
They came up with the ‘She will connect’ program to connect women to technology skills.
IBM
IBM India operates in cloud and cognitive software, global business services, global technology services, systems and financing. They have 4,30,000 employees working in India and a total of 18% of women serving as top leaders in the organization. IBM has collaborated with the Indian government to educate girls and women in STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and Maths)
Hindustan Unilever
Hindustan Unilever is an Indian consumer goods company with 50% of managerial roles now represented by women. Hindustan Unilever launched ‘Project Shakti’ that provides women from rural areas earning opportunities by training them in basic skills. It also encourages flexible working hours and a balanced work-life.
Direct selling Companies
The direct selling companies in India offer very suitable and flexible career opportunities especially for women who prefer to work from home. Companies like Oriflame (make-up, beauty and cosmetic products), Amway (Consumer goods), Herbalife (Organic supplements, personal care products), Avon(make-up, beauty and cosmetic products), Vestige(personal care products) offer these work opportunities.
These companies motivate and contribute to the progress of changing the outlook of the society towards women and their professional dreams.
(Edited by Neha Baid)
