Page 7 - Impact of WfH study report _SCOPE-ILO_Neat

Executive summary

The COVID-19 declared pandemic disrupted the way people work. Be it Governments,
Employers or Employees – all the stakeholders in the economy were hard-hit by the
pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. Almost every organisation worldwide was
caught unprepared to respond to this unusual challenge. At the same time though,
each had a colossal task to ensure business continuity and sustainability, besides
ensuring employees’ welfare including their job protection.

COVID-19 evidently contagious in nature, to limit its spread, and to keep the business
operations going, employers across the world, opted and rolled out a work from home
(WfH) arrangement for their employees. This was a switch from the prevailing work
arrangements.

The WfH arrangement is not a new concept; however, the COVID crisis made it the
most desirable and inevitable option – standardising it as a new workplace culture,
labelled as the “new normal.”

Like all other big or small companies in India or The WfH arrangement is
globally, the Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) in India
too – made a forcible shift, and adopted the “WfH” not a new concept;
model, bringing in a new dimension to the workplace however, the COVID crisis
culture of PSEs. made it the most desirable
and inevitable option –
In light of this new workplace culture – the new standardising it as a new
normal, The Bureau for Employers’ Activities
(ACTEMP) of the International Labour Organisation workplace culture, labelled
(ILO) along with the Standing Conference of Public as the “new normal.”
Enterprises (SCOPE) initiated a study to look into the
“Impact of Working from Home (WfH) on Women Executives/Managers in PSEs in
India”; and whether this is a long term sustainable solution. The study being part of
1
SCOPE-ILO’s larger initiative to empower women executives in PSEs , it specifically
explored the impact WfH had on women in PSEs, many of whom play a multiple -
rather a triple role simultaneously that of “employees, caregivers, and
managers/leaders”.

1 Under their joint initiative to empower women executives in PSEs, in August 2017,
ACTEMP-ILO, in collaboration with SCOPE initiated its first study titled, “Women!in!
Leadership and Management in the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India”. Study
available at: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---sro-
new_delhi/documents/publication/wcms_632553.pdf
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