Date:16/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/16/stories/2006021621860400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Narayana Murthy favours flexi policies for working women

Staff Reporter

Says this can prevent women from leaving their career midway

BANGALORE: Information Technology companies need to have flexible work policies to prevent women employees from leaving their jobs midway in their career because of domestic pressure. This will not only create "inclusive" environment for women but also help the employer get the best out of women employees, said Chairman and Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies Ltd N.R. Narayana Murthy.

He was speaking at a conference on "Women in IT" organised by Infosys Women's Inclusivity Network (IWIN) here on Wednesday.

Mr. Murthy said a majority of women in the IT field leave their careers midway because of domestic pressures. Having flexible work policies, such as giving long maternity leave and providing time for women to look after their children will prevent the company from losing their skill and experience. "For women, such policies will provide an effective balance between demands of work and family," he said.

Mr. Murthy said corporates need to look at the problems of women, who form 24 per cent of the workforce in the IT sector. A survey of UK FTSE 100 companies showed that the Return of Equity of companies with women on their boards of directors averaged 13.8 per cent compared to 9.8 per cent for companies with all-men boards.

But women were absent in the posts such as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. "Women in senior posts can become role models and can serve as a source of inspiration for employees belonging to their gender," he said. This is what Infosys has done by including a woman in the eight-member board of directors. The IT companies should change their mindset and encourage women to handle tough assignments. About women employee-friendly initiatives of his company, he said IWIN was started with an objective to leverage women employees' potential and give them a feel that they are valued, heard and are fully involved in the company. Women are given maternity leave and are given time to be with their children during the first three years of formative age.