According to a new study by management consultancy, Zinnov, only two per cent of women who had left the workforce joined back. The study found that even though there are several returnship programmes in India, the number of women who return to work is too low. Returnship programs are short-term programs that help people return to work by upskilling them and helping them to fit into the current work culture.
As per Zinnov’s research with around 40 multinational and Indian organisations that offer returnship programs, there were over 1,00,000 women who left the workforce for various reasons since 2016. “The biggest surprise for us was the numbers (referring to the 2 per cent). Every time organisations talk about such programmes they portray it as the biggest initiatives they are running as part of inclusion and diversity. But at the end of the day, you are only absorbing 10-15 people on a year-on-year basis,” said Nivedita Nanjappa, head of inclusion and diversity practice, Zinnov told Mint Lounge.
While the reasons that inhibited these women to return to the workforce aren’t spoken about, returnship programs and many organisations are trying to facilitate their re-integration. Many organisations have relaxed the criteria for the program. Participants with less than three years of prior experience may be considered for mid and senior-level roles, which was a prerequisite for 60 per cent of organisations.
About 70 per cent of organisations provide technical training while 80 per cent of companies offered behavioural training, both helping get a person reintegrated into the workforce. While due to the lack of infrastructure and inconsistencies, many organisations find it difficult to run these programs, the study found that 60-80 per cent of the candidates secured full time offers from those that did.
“We are hoping this survey helps organisations realise that such programmes aren't just about bringing women back to the workplace and that leaders understand the real value and align such programmes to their business requirements,” Nanjappa concluded.