Women’s Workplace Wishlist: Smartworks Edition

The more time we spend at our workplace, the more our desk, laptop, phone and a steaming hot beverage feel like family. In other words, our office becomes a ‘second home’ to us.

Now, if it’s a home, we’re bound to have some expectations, right?

While most offices are proactive when it comes to the needs of their female employees there are still some that lag behind.

Women are slowly overcoming years of prejudice to make an indelible impression on the corporate world, and attracting the right people to work for you is essential. Hiring and retaining trailblazing women employees is only possible if you make sure your company has what they’re looking for.

This doesn’t mean that women are seeking differential treatment. However, it is vital that organizations treat their female employees right, and take their perspective into account.

With this in mind, we have compiled a wishlist of #WhatWomenWant at their workplace.

1. Job satisfaction
   If our day begins with a purpose, then it should end with the satisfaction of completing that mission. This becomes even more crucial when it comes to your job. Female employees feel it’s “critical” to find jobs that enable them to do what they do best. People who get a chance to use their abilities and knowledge are more likely to be satisfied and flourish at work. Businesses need to ensure that their staff, especially female employees, are placed in roles that harness the particular skillsets and capabilities of each individual. This approach helps foster a sense of purpose at work and keeps employees motivated.
2. Work-life balance
   Whether an organization can offer an excellent work-life balance and personal well-being is another important consideration. The idea of work-life balance and well-being varies from one woman to another. Be it working mothers or women planning to start a family, an absence of a work-life balance can present a major problem. Women prefer working with employers who respect their ambition to rise to the top, without sacrificing every other aspect of their life. A company that encourages, supports and empowers women as ‘people’ rather than ‘workers’ is seen as a more favorable workplace.
3. Equal pay
   Even after years of heated debates on the glaring disparity in incomes across the gender divide, there remains an unequal pay structure between men and women. According to a report published in ‘The Hindu’, men earned a median gross hourly salary of Rs. 288.68 per hour, while women received Rs. 207.85, or about 27% less than their male counterparts. The question here is: If women are working as much as men, and in the same field, then why the difference? While the answer is debatable, such a gap will only increase unless adequate action is taken to prevent it.
4. Hygienic powder rooms
   Stepping into a dirty powder room is not just unsightly but highly unsanitary as well. Hygiene is a basic necessity and should be provided, irrespective of the place. That said, an unhygienic washroom can be expected in a public space, but certainly not in an upscale office space. A powder room with proper hygiene and amenities is a must-have.
5. Transport Facilities
   Late nights or early mornings, work is work and can’t be stalled for anything. The question of safety is a pivotal concern, given the alarming rise in acts of sexual violence against women. To counter the threat, organizations not only need to beef up security but should also provide a trusted transport facility. A reliable pick up/drop service is also a great convenience for women employees who often have to juggle their work and home life. Such facilities not only make women feel safer but also allow them to concentrate on what matters: their work.