Page 8 - Impact of WfH study report _SCOPE-ILO_Neat

SCOPE-ILO’s previous study on “Women in Leadership and Management in Public
Sector Undertakings in India” (2018) focussed on hindering and influential factors that
contribute to women’s career development and advancement to managerial and
leadership positions. It had revealed the need for positive initiatives, enabling
dialogues and discussions within PSEs. To facilitate this, as an immediate initiative,
SCOPE created a body of champions - both women and men, drawing from different
PSEs. ILO trained and certified these champions who have now become a SCOPE
task force (a Network of Champions), to conduct
gender training and sensitization sessions
focusing on equal opportunities for career “Work from Home (WfH)” was
2
advancement in different PSEs. one of the key
recommendations of the 2017-
“Work from Home (WfH)” arrangement was one of
the key recommendations of the 2017-18 18 SCOPE-ILO study. It
SCOPE-ILO study. It received a fair share of received a fair share of
arguments. Many women executives had cited arguments. Many women
the WfH arrangement as an influential factor in not executives had cited the WfH
only advancing their careers but also facilitating a arrangement as an influential
better work-life balance. The senior management
or decision-makers in the company nevertheless factor in not only advancing
had argued that WfH is not practical or feasible as their careers but also
it is made out to be. Primarily because, not all job facilitating a better work-life
functions and tasks can be done outside the balance. The senior
specified workplace. Also, deploying it may management or decision-
influence or make companies reengineer among
other things their performance appraisals, on makers in the company
which depends employees’ promotion. nevertheless had argued that
WfH is not practical or feasible
With COVID 19 being the catalyst in adopting WfH as it is made out to be.
arrangement, it was prudent to revisit the same
set of women executives (i.e. E4-E9 Level) in
PSEs who were part of the previous study to ascertain their views on its advantages
and challenges. In addition to administering a survey to the women executives, Key
Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted in select PSEs with Chairman cum
Managing Directors (CMDs), Heads of Human Resources (HR), Women in Senior
Management and other stakeholders.

2 One of the objectives of the 12- SCOPE Task Force Members is to initiate interactive
dialogues within PSEs, and in particular encourage women executives to aspire to positions
of leadership and management. This is done by addressing and discussing the challenges
that face them at work. The task force deserves special mention for their assiduous
involvement in the WfH study. For List of Task Force Members refer to Annexure II.

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