HCL: Returnship Programs in India’s Corporate Sector

India’s workforce participation gap is among the widest in the world: while most men of working age are employed, barely a quarter of women are. Career breaks, particularly for maternity, play a major role, often creating long detours away from economic participation. Yet millions of women are eager to return, only to encounter persistent barriers from hiring biases to skill gaps.

Across industries, a growing number of employers are beginning to address this challenge through structured Return-to-Work (RTW) programs. One such program at HCLTech is rethinking how companies can tap into this underutilised talent pool. From who is eligible to how hiring is done, from the role of training to the culture of inclusion, the initiative offers insights into what it takes, and what hurdles remain when supporting women’s re-entry into the workplace.