Mumbai: In what could go a long way in smashing stereotypes-and perhaps even bridge gender balance at workplaces- a survey has revealed that 35% of men began contributing more time to household chores after the pandemic.
22% Increase in the number of men who spent 4-5 hours performing chores at home.
With a hybrid work model now becoming the norm, and a large number of people working out of their homes, a study by Avtar on chore division and dynamics in Indian households reveals a 22% increase in the number of men who spent 4-5 hours performing chores at home. This is a clear sign that the burden of performing these tasks, which otherwise was the sole responsibility of women, is now beginning to get shared.
33% Women spent 4-5 hours per day on such activities versus 3% men.
Over 300 professionals (43% from metro cities, and 57% from tier 2&3 locations) were surveyed on their contributions to the ubiquitous 3Cs of cooking, cleaning, and caring. The inequalities are, however, still quite stark, especially for working women, among double-income couples too there is an unequal distribution of time spent on household chores. Among married respondents, 33% of women spent 4-5 hours per day on such activities versus 3% men. Age demographics have a big role to play. Up to 83% of the Gen Y population spend equal time (2-3 hours) in household chores along with their partners. However, only 56% of Gen X spend the same time in such activities, which were shared equally with their partners.
Organizations have a role to play in ensuring household chores get equally divided between partners. Avtar founder-president Saundarya Rajesh said, “To foster a culture of allyship, it is important that organizations inspire their employees to be allies in all spheres of their lives. And what better time to do this than the post-Covid business recovery phase.”
“The pandemic has impacted us all in different ways while highlighting existing inequities
Allyship is a culture some organizations are building to beat gender stereotypes through workshops and aggressive sensitization. Ruchi Bhalla, country head & VP HR (APAC) at logistics tech firm Pitney Bowes, said “The pandemic has impacted us all in different ways while highlighting existing inequities. It has also served to heighten awareness of the ‘power of allies’ and the role organizations can play to amplify everyday allyship and inclusion. A lot of women are finding it harder to re-pivot their careers and claim their right to step out to work. Households have become dependent on them being around. True allyship is about everyday action and inclusion. Allyship at work will help reset at home too.”
Bhalla said one of the ways in which organizations can practice allyship is through coaching leaders and people managers to sensitize them to foster an organization-wide commitment and proactive approach to building an inclusive work culture. “Allies need to be aware of the role that to be aware of the role that they can play every day to make a difference-in office and at home in their everyday lives. It’s about letting people know that organization recognizes them as a whole-as parents, spouses, and caregivers, beyond their role as employees,” said Bhalla.
Aditya Mittal, interim CHRO of Citi India, said “we support people bringing their full selves to work and so we are focused on making people more sensitive at the workplace, which in turn can translate to their home lives. Building a network of strong male allies enables the institution to tap into the true potential of a diverse talent base. “Inclusive -hiring manager workshops, respect at work, and unconscious bias training are all held on a regular basis at Citi for all employees to sensitize and build an inclusive culture. The examples provided in these workshops extend beyond work scenarios, which build awareness around the unconscious in daily life.
Source : Times of India
