A recent report titled ‘Women in Modern Workplaces in India’ has shed light on what stops women’s career growth.
In today’s age, women are making their presence felt in every sector, shattering the glass ceilings that have held them back for far too long. Yet, it’s disheartening to know that 70% of these trailblazers feel that the biggest obstacle in their career advancement is their work and personal life. It’s time we address this challenge and create a workplace culture and policies that empower women to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential.
This highlights the need for comprehensive strategies that recognize and address the complex reciprocation between professional and personal responsibilities in today’s modern workplaces.
A report on ‘Women in Modern Workplaces in India’ by Hero Vired – a LearnTech startup from the Hero Group, based out to 2 lakh women, emphasizes the challenges faced by women returning to work after a hiatus. Factors such as feeling out of touch with technological advancements, concerns about skill degradation and difficulties in finding suitable job opportunities emerge as significant obstacles. Despite the desire to reacclimatize and progress in their careers, these challenges often hinder women from fully leveraging their potential in the workplace.
Amidst these challenges, however, there are promising signs of progress in diversity and inclusion efforts within organizations. According to the report, 77% of respondents have observed an increase in the representation of women in leadership positions compared to previous years.
Additionally, the report’s findings indicate that 59% of respondents believe women in today’s workforce have equal opportunities as men, reflecting the changing dynamics towards workplace equality. This positive trend is attributed to supportive leadership, gender-inclusive hiring and promotion practices, as well as diversity initiatives implemented by organizations, as mentioned by the respondents. Moreover, 78% of the respondents who acknowledged the benefit of having more women in leadership positions believe it contributes to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace culture.
Despite these advances, the report revealed persistent biases faced by women in the workplace. Lack of growth opportunities, micro aggressions and pay disparities were key challenges, according to the majority of respondents. Challenges in acclimating to the workplace culture after career breaks were also highlighted by the women respondents- including feeling out of touch with technology, concerns about skill degradation and difficulty in finding suitable job opportunities. As many as 55% of the respondents also advocated that organizations should offer specialized upskilling programmes for women returning to work after a career break.
Akshay Munjal, founder and CEO, Hero Vired, said, “It is evident that though progress has been made, more work must be done to ensure equal opportunities for women in the workplace. There is need for continued efforts in fostering a supportive environment, addressing biases and providing avenues for professional development. Amid mounting evidence showcasing the significance of upskilling for women seeking to reintegrate into the workforce after a career hiatus, we recognize the imperative to support their professional journey. We are also providing exclusive 25% scholarship to women learners this March, to address the challenges faced by women in the workplace and advance gender equality through tailored upskilling programs and diversity initiatives.”
As many as 85% of respondents believe that upskilling can help women keep pace with opportunities in the modern workplace. Motivated by advancement opportunities and career growth prospects, 65% of women are inclined to invest in upskilling and career development. However, lack of time was cited as the primary barrier for women pursuing upskilling opportunities, as per 69% of respondents.
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