From Intent to Practice: Fostering Gender-Inclusive Workplaces

Women’s participation in India’s paid workforce remains low, and there is significant scope for the private corporate sector to help change that story. By creating workplaces where women can be hired, retained, and supported to advance, companies can play a pivotal role in building a more inclusive future. But where do we stand today, and what challenges still remain?

This report draws on a survey of 200 senior HR managers across diverse industries to understand how organisations are approaching gender diversity. The findings point to a gap between intention and action: while most companies have set gender diversity goals, fewer than half make representation data public, and only one in five has a clear plan to achieve these goals. Women’s marital status and age continue to influence hiring decisions more than men’s, and career breaks still present significant hurdles to re-entry. Some firms also fall short of legal requirements for workplace safety, with 59% lacking an Internal Complaints Committee under the POSH Act.

There are, however, promising signs. Many organisations are adopting inclusive hiring strategies, and a growing number are investing in mentorship and leadership development for women. The task ahead is to build on these efforts, bridging the distance between aspiration and action. This report explores what’s working, where the gaps remain, and how employers can make gender diversity a lived reality rather than just an ideal.