As we have celebrated March 8,
International Women’s Day, India's women play an important role in nation
building, with government models emphasising work, healthcare, education,
safety, and financial empowerment. Women, on the other hand, bear a
disproportionate burden of workplace gender disparities. A CRISIL and DBS Bank
India’ survey found that over 800 salaried and self-employed women in ten
cities confront challenges to their professional objectives and lifestyle
desires, which are influenced by characteristics such as age, income, marital
status, and geography. The data support industry perspectives on on-going
gender discrepancies in the workplace, demonstrating a 23% reported gender wage
disparity among salaried women across India, with a 16% felt gender bias.
Semi-affluent women make from ₹10 to 25 lakhs annually, whereas affluent women
earn ₹41 to 55 lakhs per year. Affluent women reported a higher perception of
the gender pay gap at 30%, while this stood at 18% among semi-affluent women. A
similar trend was seen with the perception of gender bias at the workplace with
30% of affluent women asserting that they had experienced it, significantly
higher than the 12% of women in the semi-affluent cohort who had perceived the
same bias. 42% of salaried women in metros face challenges while negotiating
salaries. The experiences differ between the eastern and western parts of
India. In Kolkata, 96% of salaried women do not face a challenge in negotiating
their pay, while only 33% in Ahmedabad feel the same. Contrasting perspectives
are also observed in southern India. In Chennai, 77% of women do not face
challenges when negotiating salaries, compared to 41% in Hyderabad. In Pune,
35% of salaried women consider sabbatical policies to be the most valuable,
significantly higher than the national average of 5%. Women's economic
independence and financial decision-making autonomy are directly impacted by
the active participation of women in the workforce.
The study's conclusions can help organisations better understand women's goals and design tactics that suit their preferences. This has the ability to improve women's careers by increasing their engagement in the workforce and optimising their contributions. Encouraging women to confidently follow their hopes and objectives is vital in a world where earnings are unequal and treatment is dehumanising. The secret to innovation and organisational success is giving women the confidence to advocate for improved chances and succeed in their roles. According to research published in Harvard Business Review, businesses with a higher percentage of female top executives are more successful and socially conscious. Employers may need to take note of this and make improvements so that women can assume leadership roles and end the cycle of discrimination based on gender.