When it comes to women’s empowerment, let that collective action of the patriarchal society speak louder than words. A famous quote from Cherie Blair, a barrister, and writer, sums up the power of women empowerment thus- “When you empower a woman, you empower a family, a community, and indeed a nation.” Going less on debates, discussions, and seminars and more on policy implementation, adherence to rules and regulations, active listening and practical solutions to their concerns, acknowledgment, and appreciation for their hard work and contribution, accommodating their views and opinions at equal footing that guarantee true empowerment of women at the workplace is the need of the hour.
Women are born strong and made stronger through life events and experiences. With their inherent strength and resilience, they have always defied all odds and forayed into all fields previously reserved for men. Women are slowly but steadily breaking the shackles of societal stereotypes of social traditions, culture, beliefs, and customs that have long been confining them to an inferior gender status regarding equity in socio-economic, academic, and professional growth opportunities, the journey is not far and is closer to the destination.
Women’s empowerment starts with a simple act of acknowledgment. Acknowledging –
- Women, as equals, deserve equal opportunities and freedom as men to pursue their dreams, aspirations, and career and make independent life choices and decisions.
- The hard work, dedication, efforts, and contribution women put in whatever they do.
- The physiological and biological factors affecting women’s physical and emotional health, behavior, and constraints they put on women.
We believe that women are already empowered and sometimes, they need to be just reminded about this innate characteristic through support, encouragement, acknowledgment, and appreciation as the four pillars provided by us along with strategic measures like:
Diverse Workforce
Diversity in the workforce by bridging the gap between men women ratio with a lot of women associates at different hierarchical levels in major departments like International Regulatory, Legal and Compliance, Digital Marketing, Clinical trial team, Regulatory Affairs, Human Resource, speaks volumes about our commitment to empowering women.
Realistic Goal Setting
The goals we set for our women employees are not gender-based but on the skills set, qualification, experience, and knowledge providing measurable standards to compare the actual. Thus, we acknowledge the real capabilities and create capacities for growth and development.
Training
We consciously promote and impart various need-based training to the women workforce to encourage them to cross-skill and up-skill themselves and hone their present talents and capabilities through access and way to try modern technologies. Thus, we enable our women employees to keep up with technological and business advancements.
Fair pay scheme
With a fair pay scheme policy, we provide meritorious financial compensation based on its employees’ qualifications, experience, and performance, irrespective of gender. The unbiased pay schemes attribute compensation to individual work experience and performance without gender bias.
Flexibility
A flexible work schedule is the most welcomed policy measure of our company, where women can decide where and when to work subject to the company’s working hours policy. Full-time, part-time, in-office, hybrid, and remote are the varied options for women aimed at providing for their work-life balance. The prime goal is to consider women’s social and family responsibilities while providing employment opportunities that assure fair participation, opportunities, career growth, and remuneration.
Director & Group HR Head
Meril Group Companies
Sensitivity and Understanding
Our company demonstrates sensitivity and understanding towards the specific psychological and emotional needs of the women workforce by providing them the necessary support to face and overcome the challenges associated with the natural and unavoidable biological and physiological changes experienced by them. To this end, we provide relaxation and flexibility in work schedules, preferential leaves, workload distribution, and health, security, safety, and emergency measures for its women employees in need.
At Meril, women have a seat at the table with an uninterrupted voice in meetings, a dais, and a platform to share their knowledge and voice their views and opinions, mentorship when new and leadership when seasoned, with equal opportunities, recognition, representation, participation, and compensation.
Women empowerment is a social responsibility, not just a policy. It is a way of functioning and corporate culture at Meril.
