Women’s employee spectrum increases two folds in India Inc, reveals Best Companies for Women in India 2017

• Announced this year’sTop 10 Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI)

Mumbai : Aided with best practices and policies at workplace, the 100 Best Companies for Women in India has witnessed a two-fold increase in Women’s employee spectrum in the last one year reveals the second edition of Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) study. Conducted by AVTAR Group-India’s first diversity advocate and workplace inclusion expert andWorking Mother Media, a celebrated gender-parity champion in the United States, thestudy shows that the women employment count currently stands at 4,67,883 among the 100 Best Companies for Women in India as compared to 2,05,236 women employees last year.

The Best Companies for Women in India Study, instituted by Working Mother in partnership with AVTAR Group in 2016, aims to identify best practices and policies followed by companies for increasing women’s workforce participation. The second edition of the study in 2017 was conducted which received registrations from 360 employers in the country and listed the 100 Best Companies for Women in India.

In terms of the gender diversity ratio in the 100 Best Companies, there has been a 5-percentage point increase from 2016 – 30.55% of the workforce of the 2017-100 Best Companies are women (up from 25.25% in 2016). This is substantiated by a significant increase in the hiring rates for women in the 100 Best Companies at 36% - a 15% surge from last year.

Expanding the canvas of their women oriented initiatives, 38% of the 2017-100 Best Companies provide support for women having postpartum depression, 20% provide support for employees with autistic children. 67% of the companies have formal phase-back programs (15%up from 52% in 2016) to help youngmothers reintegratethemselves back to work post maternity. The study also states that 40% of the companies across industries have formal programs for returning women. In tune with the increasing pattern of millennial couples sharing familial responsibilities, 94% of the 2017-100 Best Companies offer fully paid paternity leave to their employees, the maximum being 56 days.

Commenting on the increase in women’s employee spectrum, Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, Founder – President, AVTAR Group,“Corporate India’s focus on recruiting and expanding their women employee base is laudable. Going by the data (a 5% increase in women’s representation in one year), the Best Companies for Women in Indiamay get to their goal of gender balance in another 5-6 years’ time! Whilst it is encouraging to note that many companies have introduced new policies to retain valuable women talent, this trend still remains nascent in traditional services industry and there is a need for industries such as manufacturing and infrastructure to leverage the opportunity of an increase in employable women talent. In the years to come, BCWI will further strengthen the ecosystem for women professionals in India Inc., raising the bar each year and catalyzing its journey to gender balance”

Adding to this, Ms. Subha Barry, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Working Mother Media, said “We are delighted that BCWI has set a benchmark among companies to initiate more women inclusive polices. The impact that BCWI has created in the Indian market, where companies have recognized the need for having women in the workforce and have diligently worked towards introducing best practices is truly remarkable. We have noticed that this is not just at an entry level but across all levels, which is very encouraging for women employees in the company. I congratulate all the winning companies and hope to see a continued expansion of inclusive and women-friendly policies.”

2017 Working Mother & AVTAR Best Companies for Women in India 2017: The List

The Working Mother & AVTAR Best Companies for Women in India 2017 study report also revealed the 100 Best Companies for Women in India list. This is, strictly, an alphabetical list and is NOT RANKED. The 2017 Top 10 BestCompanies for Women in India are listed below (in alphabetical order):

• Accenture Solutions Private Limited
• Deloitte in India
• EY
• IBM INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
• Northern Trust Bank
• People Combine Educational Initiatives Limited
• Procter & Gamble
• Schneider Electric India
• Shell India Markets Pvt Ltd
• Tata Consultancy Services

The selection was basedon data of highest order granularity spanning seven key policy clusters, namely,Workforce profile, Flexible work, Women’s recruitment and retention, Benefits, Paid-time, Company cultureand Safety and security, as provided by the applicant companies.

2017 Working Mother & AVTAR Best Companies for Women in India: Key Findings

1. The 2017 - 100 Best Companies together employ 4,67, 883 of women (up from 2,05,236 women in 2016 – 100 Best Companies). The 2017- 100 Best Companies have an employee base of 15.36 Lakhs people.

2. 30.55% of the workforce in the 2017 - 100 Best Companies are Women (5% up from 25.25% in 2016 – 100 Best).

3. 34.36% of the workforce in the 2017 Top 10 Best Companies for Women in India are Women (2% up from 32% in 2016 Top 10)

4. 36% of all hires in 2017 – 100 Best are women (15% up from 2016 – 100 Best)

5. 40% of all hires in the 2017 Top 10 Best Companies for Women in India are Women.

6. 33% of the entry level employees at 2017 - 100 Best Companies are women (11% up from 22% in 2016-100 Best Companies); 37% of the entry level employees at Top 10 are women (4% up from 33% in 2016 Top 10.).

7. 18% of 2017 - 100 Best Companies’ Board of directors are women (3% up from 15% in 2016-100 Best Companies);

8. 15% of the 2017 - 100 Best Companies are helmed by women CEOs.

9. 17% of direct reportees to CEOs are women in the 2017 - 100 Best Companies (3% up from 14% in 2016-100 Best Companies).

10. In terms of being promoted to corporate executives, 2% more women than men at the senior managerial levels were promoted at the 2017 – 100 Best Companies.

11. 13% of business leaders heading business units with turnover > 1000 Crores in the 2017 – 100 Best Companies are women; 11% of business leaders heading business units with turnover > 500 Crores in the 2017 – 100 Best Companies are women.

12. The attrition rate of women steadily declines as they progress along the talent pipeline in 2017-100 Best Companies. From 23% at non-managerial level to 15% at managerial level to 13% at senior managerial level to 9% at corporate executive levels. However, for men the non-managerial attrition rate is similar to that of women at 22%, but at all the three subsequent levels this is at 14%. This is an indication that if companies are able to invest in the retention and advancement of women, healthy gender ratios are bound to follow.

13. 40% of the 2017 – 100 Best Companies have formal programmes for returning women after a career break (10% up from 30% in 2016-100 Best Companies).

14. Leadership training, networking platforms and mentoring are the three most effectiveinitiatives for women’s career advancement, says the BEST IN CLASS.

15. 92% of the 2017 – 100 Best Companies conduct annual employee surveys on work-life integration issues (8% up from 84% in 2016-100 Best Companies).

16. All of the 2017-100 Best Companies provide Flexible Working Arrangements (as also the 2016-100 Best) – flexitime and telecommuting are the two most popular flavours of work flexibility this year.

17. There is no gender divide in the access and utilization of flexible working in the 2017 - 100 Best.

18. The Best in class maternity leave in 2017-100 Best Companies is 30 weeks.

19. 94% of the 2017 - 100 Best Companies provided fully paid paternity leave (averaging 12 days). This is 8% up from 86% in 2016-100 Best. The BEST IN CLASS for paid paternity leave in 2017 – 100 Best Companies is 56 days.

20. 87% of 2017 – 100 Best Companies provided fully paid adoption leave (averaging 12 weeks). This is 17% up from 70% in 2016-100 Best. The BEST IN CLASS for paid adoption leave was 26 weeks.

21. The maternity retention rate in the 2017–100 Best Companies is 90.33% (Top 10 is 90.36%). Maternity retention rate refers to the percentage of women who resume work post their company provided maternity leave.

22. 67% of the 2017 – 100 Best Companies have formal phase-back programmes (15% up from 52% in 2016-100 Best) to help young mothers reintegrate themselves back to work. These are structured programmes to ensure that the transition back to work is smooth for young mothers. The average phase-back period was 5.45 months.

23. 38% of the 2017-100 Best Companies provide young mothers support for postpartum depression.

24. 34% of the 2017-100 Best Companies provide day care services for employee children.

25. 20% of the 2017 – 100 Best Companies provide support to employees with autistic children.

26. 63% provide tuition reimbursement for employees to pursue professional enhancement programmes (21% up from 42% in 2016-100 Best Companies).

27. 16% of the 2017 – 100 Best Companies and 40% of the 2017 Top 10 sponsor infertility treatments for their employees.

28. All of the 2017 Top 10 Best Companies train their managers to help champion gender diversity, 100% train their managers to understand the work-life issues of their employees.68% of the 2017 - 100 Best Companies train their managers to help champion gender diversity (24% up 44% in 2016-100 Best Companies), 59% train their managers to understand the work-life issues of their employees (25% up from 34% in 2016-100 Best Companies).

29. 59% of the 2017 – 100 Best Companies conduct surveys to ensure gender pay equity (22% up from 37% in 2016-100 Best), 80% of the Top 10 do so.

30. The 2017-100 Best Companies strive to create gender inclusive work environments. In 88% of the 2017-100 Best Companies there are senior male leaders championing the cause of gender inclusion. In recognition of this intent, this year Working Mother & AVTAR are instituting the very first edition of the Male Ally Legacy Award.