Women’s Day 2023: How corporates are improving women’s workplaces

New Delhi : In today’s society, where gender inequality persists, it’s still not easy for women to advance their careers or get public respect. Therefore, a growing number of businesses are making conscious efforts to foster an atmosphere that encourages and supports women’s professional development. Companies are making strides to create a work environment where women can feel comfortable reaching their full potential by implementing policies like boosting the number of women in leadership positions and providing more flexible work hours. We reached out to top executives to learn more about what their companies are doing to promote women in leadership roles.

Sustainability eShruti Jain, Sustainability Influencer @StyleDestino, and CSO, Arihant Capital

Increasing the number of women in executive roles has always been part of Arihant Capital’s efforts to create a more progressive and inclusive workplace. Pregnancy and its aftermath present the greatest hurdle to women in the workplace. Women continue to drop out of the labour force at significant rates throughout this time of life because they are not given adequate support by their employers around the world. Arihant Capital has seen firsthand that every pregnancy, baby, and mother is unique. We are always adapting our rules to meet the unique needs of our pregnant women workers.

We’re making an effort to create a more gender-balanced workplace by providing perks like flexible scheduling, work-from-home opportunities, a casual clothing policy, and paid time off. Arihant Capital places a high value on promoting an inclusive work environment for all of our staff members. We’re aware that our policies can and should be strengthened. As a result, we make it a point to pay close attention to the feedback of our female employees, revise our policies as necessary, and generally work towards creating an environment that is welcoming to everybody. Our company is committed to retaining its female employees by providing them with resources and encouragement throughout their careers.

Vidushi Kapoor, Co-founder, Process 9:-

Process9 is an equal-opportunity employer, with more than 30% of our staff being female. Before COVID made these practises commonplace, we allowed for them as a means of bettering the environment for women. We have a policy of hiring and retaining a large percentage of women who have had to take time off to raise their families. Our policies are geared towards creating a positive and productive workplace for all team members. The primary goal of our policies is to foster a community in which everyone is encouraged to put forth their best effort and make a meaningful contribution to the team’s success. We place more value on output than on the specifics of where it is produced, be it the office or the kitchen table.

Anuja Patil, CEO at Unilife, The Off-Campus Lifestyle App:

We have a period policy because we are a startup and we understand the special considerations that women need during this time of the month. This can be done by measures such as making menstrual products available, allowing for flexible scheduling and remote work, and encouraging open dialogue about these issues. We may not be in a position to provide a separate room for women to use during their periods, but we encourage larger companies to give thought to creating break areas where they can do so in peace and quiet. Organizations may boost employee satisfaction and well-being by providing a workplace that recognises and supports the particular requirements of women.

Unilife is dedicated to making the workplace more inclusive of women, and we strongly encourage other companies to do the same. Everyone needs to be aware of the effects of menstruation on female workers and work to eliminate any stigma or discrimination associated with it, while also fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. Regardless of the gender of those in power, businesses can benefit from accommodating women’s menstrual demands by making changes to their work environments.