While many companies might treat women’s empowerment as a passing trend, Godrej’s dedication has always been consistent and unwavering. Aligning with the UN’s ‘Invest in Women’ theme, Godrej actively invests in gender equality, recognising its power as a multinational conglomerate to drive meaningful change. Women empowerment at Godrej and their initiatives go beyond policies. The company creates a workplace culture where women feel valued, respected, and empowered.
Creating a safe and inclusive workplace
At Godrej, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for women is a top priority. Here’s how the company makes this happen through various thoughtful policies:
Maternity and family support
Godrej offers six months of paid maternity leave well before it became a legal requirement. They also cover fertility treatment costs. Moreover, new mothers enjoy flexible work options upon returning and can bring a caregiver and children up to one year old on work trips.
The Careers 2.0 program helps women returning from career breaks re-enter the workforce. The company also offers gender-neutral adoption leave based on the primary caregiver’s needs and a Travel Safety Policy for Women to ensure their safety during work trips.
Anti-sexual harassment
Godrej is committed to a safe workplace and has a zero-tolerance policy for any unsafe behaviour. The company provides a POSH e-learning module, on-site training, an online portal for complaints, and a dedicated hotline for factory employees. Discrimination based on nationality, race, religion, caste, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or marital status is not tolerated.
Support groups and programs
Godrej has established several support groups for women and the LGBT+ community, including Manch in Godrej Consumer Products, WeForShe in Godrej Agrovet, SheRises in Godrej Capital, and Queers and Allies in Godrej Properties.
The Aarambh program specifically hires women for sales roles in Godrej Consumer Products. EmpowerHer drives awareness and provides health camps addressing issues like menstruation, PCOS, menopause, gender transitioning, and mental well-being. It also collaborates with healthcare professionals.
Women empowerment at Godrej: Women in real estate
Godrej Properties (GPL) launched the Collective of Real Estate Women (CREW), a nationwide initiative to empower women in real estate, construction, and allied sectors. CREW will roll out inclusive company policies developed through Project Woolf, an internal study that involved over 500 women, including current employees and alumni of Godrej Properties.
This study analysed attrition and engagement data, revealing that women often prioritise emotional needs over functional requirements in the workplace. It highlights the need for a supportive and empathetic environment.
Godrej Properties consistently integrates diversity and inclusion, with 31% of its workforce representing women, LGBTQ, and persons with disabilities. In Pune, women’s representation reached 32% for FY24. However, with CREW, Godrej shows an approach that goes beyond numbers, focusing on addressing both functional and emotional needs.
The CREW initiative isn’t just limited to improving gender diversity within Godrej Properties. The goal is to set an example for the entire real estate sector across the country. By prioritising gender diversity, Godrej Properties hopes to encourage other companies in the industry to adopt similar practices, ultimately creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women throughout the real estate and construction sectors nationwide.
For Godrej Properties, this forum is a cornerstone of our commitment to building a real estate industry that thrives on diversity and inclusivity.
Women empowerment at Godrej: Women in Agriculture
Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) recently hosted its first ‘Women in Agriculture’ summit. Despite the belief that agriculture is a male-dominated field, the data tells a different story. In India, 86.1 million women, or 60% of all women workers, work in agriculture. Moreover, 84% of rural women rely on agriculture for their livelihood. However, women still face underrepresentation in higher positions within agri-businesses.
The summit’s goal was to create better employment opportunities and drive economic upliftment for women in India’s agricultural sector. Moreover, by partnering with the Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI), the Future Agriculture Leaders of India (FALI), and Godrej Good & Green, the summit aims to support 100,000 women in the sector.
GAVL believes that we must create an ecosystem that supports women not only on the farm but also in agri-businesses. Providing them with the necessary knowledge, infrastructure, and support will surely help us improve the country’s overall agricultural output.
The final thoughts
Godrej’s commitment to empowering women extends far beyond the typical corporate purplewashing. Their approach integrates meaningful policies and programs that not only address immediate needs but also foster a culture of respect and inclusion. Through these efforts, Godrej shows that true empowerment is about creating lasting, positive change and setting an example for others to follow.
Sources
Godrej Properties launches Pune Chapter of C.R.E.W to Boost Women’s Representation in Real Estate.
Godrej Agrovet hosts the first edition of its ‘Women in Agriculture’ summit.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we broadly define as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
