Only 3% salaried women prioritise remote working during job search: Report

The findings corroborate industry views on persistent gender disparities in the workplace, revealing that the perceived gender pay gap at a pan-India level stood at 23 percent among salaried women, while perceived gender bias stood at 16 percent.

Remote working is not a high priority among salaried women when looking for a job, with only three percent considering it essential, according to a report by DBS Bank India, in collaboration with CRISIL.

While salary and career advancement ranked as the topmost factors when selecting a job for 69 percent of salaried women, 42 percent of self-employed women prioritised independence and flexible working hours.

DBS Bank India, in collaboration with CRISIL, launched the second of three reports from its  study titled 'Women and Finance'. The report is based on a survey of over 800 salaried and self-employed women across 10 cities in India and is designed to reveal the interplay between their professional aspirations and personal lifestyle preferences.

Challenges faced by salaried women 

The findings corroborate industry views on persistent gender disparities in the workplace, revealing that the perceived gender pay gap at a pan-India level stood at 23 percent among salaried women, while perceived gender bias stood at 16 percent. Semi-affluent women, earning between Rs 10 to Rs 25 lakh annually, and affluent women, with salaries ranging from Rs 41 to 55 lakh per year, have varying perspectives on the gender pay gap. Affluent women reported a higher perception of the gender pay gap at 30 percent, while this stood at 18 percent among semi-affluent women.

A similar trend was seen with the perception of gender bias at the workplace with 30 percent of affluent women asserting that they had experienced it, significantly higher than the 12 percent of women in the semi-affluent cohort who had perceived the same bias.

42 percent of salaried women in metros face challenges while negotiating salaries. The experiences differ between the eastern and western parts of India.

In Kolkata, 96 percent of salaried women do not face a challenge in negotiating their pay, while only 33 percent in Ahmedabad feel the same. Contrasting perspectives are also observed in southern India. In Chennai, 77 percent of women do not face challenges when negotiating salaries, compared to 41 percent in Hyderabad.

“Encouraging the active participation of women in the workforce is crucial for fostering their economic independence and ensuring autonomy in financial decision-making. Insights gleaned from the study can empower organisations to understand women's aspirations better and tailor strategies that align with their preferences. This can lead to more fulfilling careers for women, enhancing their participation in the workforce and maximising their potential contributions,” said Kishore Poduri, Managing Director, and Country Head of HR of DBS Bank India.

Policies and initiatives preferred by salaried women

Among salaried women, those who are unmarried show a greater appreciation for mentorship and career development opportunities compared to their married counterparts. Specifically, 26 percent of unmarried women express appreciation for such programs, compared to 16 percent of married women.

Regional variations lend greater depth to the insights. For instance, in Kolkata, 46 percent of salaried women consider mentorship and career development programs to be the most valuable, surpassing the national average of 19 percent. Similarly, in Delhi, 33 percent of salaried women value childcare support facilities offered by organisations, compared to the national average of 11 percent. Among women in Chennai, 32 percent accord the most importance to extended maternity benefits, surpassing the national average of 19 percent. This aligns with the behaviours reflected within DBS Bank India's employee base. In a recent internal survey, female employees ranked mentorship and career advancement opportunities (19 percent) and support for expecting mothers (16 percent) as the top initiatives they found most valuable.

These findings also highlight the need for organisations to implement family-friendly policies that improve work-life harmony for women with caregiving responsibilities. In Pune, 35 percent of salaried women consider sabbatical policies to be the most valuable, significantly higher than the national average of 5 percent.