46% Indian women worry about safety at work, 14% report instances of harassment: Deloitte Report

Publishing date: 07 May 2024

Published in: CNBC

Safety remains a paramount concern for Indian women, with 46% worrying about their safety at work or during commutes. This is according to the Women @ Work 2024 Report by Deloitte. Additionally, 14% report instances of harassment or discomfort from clients or customers, highlighting the need for robust measures to ensure a safe and inclusive workplace environment.

According to the report, Indian women are primarily concerned about women’s rights, financial security, and personal safety at work or while commuting.

14% of women across the globe say that women’s rights have deteriorated in their respective countries over the last year. Strikingly, the same proportion shares this belief in India, indicating a concerning trend within the nation.

“Furthering the equal participation of women in our workforce goes well beyond the four walls of the office, and some of the priorities would include change in behaviour. It is important for organisations to call out undesirable behaviour such as micro-aggressions and gender-bias. It is also important to focus on areas that may feel like they’re beyond the organisation’s control, which nevertheless need investment of best possible efforts,” says Saraswathi Kasturirangan, Chief Happiness Officer, Deloitte India.

For example, extending the zero-tolerance policy for bad behaviour by colleagues to vendors / customers as well; a night-time travel policy where there are safeguards for women professionals; and sensitisation training that covers allyship in general, instead of just as a rule at the workplace, she said.