Consulting firms among the best companies in India for women
Working Mother and AVTAR have unveiled India's Top 10 Best Companies for Women, with consulting firms stealing the show. Three out of the Big Four accounting and advisory firms made the top 10 alongside Accenture, IBM and Tech Mahindra, reflecting broader efforts to promote an inclusive workplace.
This was the fourth edition of the awards in India, which ranks the 100 best companies in India for women. The selection process is based on a comprehensive study conducted by Avtar and Working Mother, which takes into account a variety of factors vis-a-vis the treatment of women in the workplace.
These factors range from women’s recruitment, retention & advancement to their safety & security in the workplace. Other factors include the flexibility of work hours, parental leave, benefits & work-life programmes, as well as company culture & management accountability.
Accenture, a global consulting, technology and outsourcing firm, topped the list. Big Four accounting and advisory firms Deloitte and EY ranked fourth and fifth respectively, while KPMG holds the seventh spot. PwC, which has launched targeted efforts to promote inclusiveness in the workplace, did not make the top 10, but did make the broader top 100 list.
The composition of the top ten has been fairly constant in recent years, with most consulting firms noting top 10 positions for four consecutive years. KPMG is the exception, having entered the top 10 this year, while compared to last year, global IT services giant Capgemini has fallen out of the top 10.
Speaking of the edge women-diverse companies have, Saundarya Rajesh, Founder & President of AVTAR said: “Corporate India’s focus on recruiting and expanding their women employee base is laudable. Going by the data (a 5% increase in women’s representation in one year), the Best Companies for Women in India may get to their goal of gender balance in another 5-6 years’ time.”
“Whilst it is encouraging to note that many companies have introduced new policies to retain valuable women talent, this trend still remains nascent in traditional services industry and there is a need for industries such as manufacturing and infrastructure to leverage the opportunity of an increase in employable women talent,” she added.
Diversity leaders perform well in an environment where most efforts towards gender inclusiveness are failing to come to fruition. A recent Boston Consulting Group report indicated that while most companies are implanting measures to make the workplace more equitable, less than a third are reaping the benefits.
Deloitte India Chief People Officer Nathan SV reiterated Deloitte’s commitment to the issue, stating “We continue to invest in policies and new initiatives. However, what is most important for us is the faith that not only our people, but also those on the outside have that this is a fantastic place for working women.”