In a revealing study by consulting firm Aon, nearly half of the women employees in India Inc are contemplating quitting their jobs within the next two years. This trend is alarming, with many citing key challenges such as sexual harassment, gender bias, and pay disparity.
Key Findings from the Aon Study
Aon's 2024 Voice of Women survey, conducted from March to June 2024, gathered responses from 24,000 women across over 560 companies. The study highlighted that 47% of the respondents are either unsure about their tenure with their current employers or plan to leave within two years. The primary reasons for this uncertainty are the absence of an inclusive work culture and limited career progression opportunities.
Shilpa Khanna, Associate Partner and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Practice Leader of Talent Solutions in India for Aon, explained, "Of the 47% who are unsure, 27% said they will not stay beyond two years, and 20% are unsure about their duration with their current employer."
Impact of Bias and Harassment
The study found that women who faced bias are 3.5 times more likely to perceive their organizational experience as unfair. Consequently, 21% of these women indicated that they might leave their jobs within a year, compared to only 6% of women who have not faced bias. Shockingly, 6% of the women surveyed, equating to over 1,400 respondents, reported experiencing sexual harassment at least once. However, less than half of these incidents were officially reported to their employers.
The Need for an Inclusive Work Culture
The study emphasizes the necessity of recruiting more women across sectors, especially in light of the pandemic, which saw a decline in women's participation in both formal and informal sectors. The pandemic highlighted significant challenges such as inadequate support systems and the complexities of remote work.
Government Initiatives
In response to these challenges, the Indian government has earmarked ₹3 trillion in the Union budget for schemes aimed at benefiting women and girls, to boost their workforce participation and contribution to economic development. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced initiatives including the establishment of working women's hostels in collaboration with industry and setting up creches.
Addressing Harassment and Gender Bias
Workplace harassment and gender bias remain critical issues. During its annual general meeting in May, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT firm, addressed the rise in harassment cases and the gender pay gap. TCS Chairman N. Chandrasekaran emphasized the company’s zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, attributing the increase in reported cases to greater employee willingness to speak out.
Recommendations for Improvement
To enhance women's participation and retention in the workplace, the study recommends several measures:
Increasing women in leadership roles
Offering flexible work options
Promoting work-life balance
Additionally, the study revealed that over two in five women faced bias based on physical appearance, age, marital status, or motherhood status. Interestingly, the data did not show significant differences between the experiences of women in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. While 86% of respondents from metros reported feeling mentally exhausted, 76% of those from non-metros expressed the same sentiment. These challenges are largely sector-agnostic, affecting women across various industries.
Conclusion
The findings of Aon’s study underscore the urgent need for India Inc to foster a more inclusive and supportive work environment for women. Addressing issues of bias, harassment, and disparity is crucial for retaining talented women and ensuring their career growth and satisfaction.
By implementing inclusive policies and creating a supportive workplace culture, companies can not only improve retention rates but also harness the full potential of their female workforce, driving overall organizational success.
