Avtar, India’s pioneer, and leading workplace culture consulting company announces findings from the 9th edition of the ‘Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI)’, listing. The 2024 Avtar & Seramount findings mark an evolution in the workplace culture in India, as the initiative nears the close of a decade. Data emerging from the survey establishes that average women representation across industries today is at 36.6 percent and close to 40 percent at entry level. Sectors like professional services are close to gender balance with 46 percent women while manufacturing reported a gender ratio of 20 percent, an indication of intensifying efforts.

Dr. Saundarya Rajesh - Founder, President, Avtar says, "We are at a unique, paradox and juncture in India today concerning women's participation in the workforce; we have made significant progress in many areas such as the sheer volume of the women workforce, the facilities and flexibilities provided and the benefits to name a few but yet far behind in leveraging the opportunity - of enabling women in leadership positions, of ensuring a rise in women participation and distribution across sectors and needless to emphasize women's safety and well-being at the workplace so that they are encouraged to stay and grow. We are committed to keep nudging and raising the bar at Avtar and this year's report takes one more step in that direction - of recognizing emerging companies on their initiatives towards increasing and enabling women in the workforce and deep-diving into the data industry-wise so that we have an incisive reflection of the gaps and areas that we need to work on.”

Dr. Saundarya says,  “It is remarkable to witness how organizations across geographies are increasingly committed to creating work environments where diversity is empowered to thrive. The BCWI study and the MICI continue to be a beacon of progress and as we move forward, we remain committed to enabling workplaces where equality is not just a goal, but a reality."

 

“The DEI rigor and focus of the participating companies prove that they are keen on turning around challenges into opportunities. We are thrilled to congratulate the companies recognized in the listing this year, for their unwavering commitment to DEI in their actions and spirit,” adds Dr. Saundarya.

Subha Barry, President of Seramount says, “Most Inclusive Companies Index helps companies in India focus their efforts to understand gaps and provide specific strategies, programs, tools, and resources to help raise the standard on DEI strategies for under-represented talent including gender, LGBTQ+, PWD, and different generations. We celebrate the leadership, employees, and initiatives that foster an inclusive environment where women and all talent can thrive.”

This year BWCI received 361 applications from organizations across various industries, regions and sectors in India, out of which companies from industries as diverse as Automotive, BFSI, Chemical, Conglomerate, Consumer Products, E-Commerce, Global Capabilities Center, Hospitality, Health Care, IT, ITES, Logistics and Management Consulting, Manufacturing, Media, Pharmaceutical, Professional Services, Real Estate, Retail and Apparel, and Science & Engineering, Telecommunication and Utilities, made it to the Best Companies List.  The study accepted applications from companies between February 2024, and July 2024.

The companies that feature in MICI together employ 7427 people with disabilities. The champions of inclusion together employ 4652 people with disabilities; the exemplars have over 2275 PwD employees working for them.