Highlight of International Women’s Day: Unfair Pay Remains, with 56% of Indian Women Receiving Less Than Asked Raise

On the eve of International Women’s Day in 2024, Indeed, a worldwide platform for recruiting and matching has commissioned global research called “Work Needs Women.” It sought to provide a thorough picture of the viewpoints and experiences of women working in India and other countries. Out of the 11 nations, the largest proportion of Indian women (90%) consider salary to be a significant component of their work (compared to the worldwide average of 82%).

The research also aimed to identify areas in which decision-makers and organizations may intervene to foster more welcoming and encouraging work environments for women.

important conclusions from the paper;

A Global View on Salary Negotiation: In spite of advancements, more than half of women worldwide who asked for raises were not granted what they had hoped for.
Revealing the Reality of Indian Wages: In the midst of India’s economic boom, a sobering fact emerges: 56% of women who asked for increases got less than they had anticipated, indicating ongoing difficulties in obtaining fair pay in the Indian labor market.

Handling the Gender Pay Disparity: Indian women report much better levels of satisfaction in their sectoral and organizational domains, despite the fact that women in all of the examined countries experience a stark gender pay disparity at the national level.

According to Indeed’s survey, women’s quest for work fulfillment is impacted by a range of social, cultural, and economic issues. In addition to having a strong desire for financial independence, women place a high value on striking a work-life balance that accommodates their personal interests, family obligations, and professional development. In this endeavor, job stability and the desire to acquire new skills that may lead to even more chances are still crucial factors.

According to the survey, 53% of Indian women feel comfortable asking for a raise, which is more than the 30% average for the world.

According to the research, India has the greatest number of women who have requested raises (65%) of any nation.

Indian women believe that asking for a raise increases their chances of receiving one.

Despite the fact that India’s economy has grown significantly in recent years, increasing competitiveness and living costs, more than half of the women who sought a salary rise (56%) received less than what they had requested. India has the youngest labor force in the world, which may lead to lower salaries and a more competitive employment market.

The gender wage gap is a worldwide issue, and most people believe it to be more noticeable nationally than it is inside their own industries or organizations. Particularly prominent are the perceptions in France (68%), and Italy (70%).

When it comes to the gender wage gap, Indian women believe that their nation, industry, and organization most accurately reflect their opinions.

Women in India identify three key strategies to narrow the gender pay gap: gender pay/salary audits (37%), workplace flexibility (39%), and frequent compensation reviews (39%).

It is important to acknowledge the importance of these programs, since research, such as that conducted by the Harvard Business Review, indicates that organizations with a larger proportion of women in top roles often have better levels of profitability and social responsibility, and provide safer, superior customer experiences.

“Creating an environment where all women feel empowered to negotiate, thrive, and achieve balance is not only ethical but also the key to unlocking innovation and organizational success on a global scale,” said Nishita Lalvani, marketing director of Indeed India & Singapore. It’s amazing how confident Indian women are in achieving their value, and it’s time we encouraged similar settings around the globe.

Although it is encouraging to see Indian women at the forefront of the world, many obstacles still need to be overcome before women can fully benefit from equal opportunities. Regardless of cultural differences, Lalvani said, “it is crucial to create a world where every woman can confidently pursue her dreams and aspirations at work and outside of work.”

Techniques

The information included in this release is based on a survey that was completed in November 2023 by 14,677 female respondents who were working full- or part-time in 11 different nations.

1,193 women in India were polled. There were other categories used to divide up the Indian respondents, including age group, generation, seniority, and location (north, south, east, and west). Women from a variety of industries, including IT & telecom, financial services, marketing & advertising, retail, legal, hospitality, real estate, and others, were polled in big, medium, and small enterprises.