Why Employers Must Embrace Work From Home for Women

Rajkumari Sharma Tankha

It is time for employers across India to seriously consider offering work from home (WFH) options for women employees. Not only can this reduce overhead costs for companies, but it also enhances work quality. When women can balance professional responsibilities with household duties, they work with a calmer, focused mindset. This leads to better results for employers.

Various Studies

Studies indicate that many women leave their careers around the age of 35, a stage when they hold fairly senior positions. These skilled and experienced professionals often sacrifice their jobs due to commuting challenges, childcare responsibilities, and household pressures. With limited organized domestic support, women increasingly prefer WFH arrangements—even if it means lower salaries or reduced corporate status—because it allows them to manage both work and home effectively.

According to a survey by ASSOCHAM:

• In Delhi-NCR, 20% of professionally qualified women prefer WFH.

• In Bangalore and other major Karnataka cities, this figure is 12%.

• In Mumbai, 10% of women favor WFH.

Despite the clear demand, WFH opportunities are largely restricted to metro cities and industries such as IT, ITeS, graphic design, content writing, telemarketing, and data entry. In most other sectors, women are often forced to leave their careers entirely. This not only impacts their self-esteem but also reduces family income and affects living standards. With the rising cost of living, dual-income households are increasingly necessary.

It is time for companies in all industries and cities to adopt flexible policies—either by offering work from home or flexi-hours—to prevent women from being forced out of the workforce.

ASSOCHAM SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

The ASSOCHAM survey also highlights that women opting for WFH are typically between 35-45 years old, when children are young and family support is minimal. Naturally, they prioritize family responsibilities and often leave full-time work.

Employers must also be open to hiring older women for full-time positions. Many women above 45, eager to resume their careers after raising children, struggle to find jobs matching their experience and qualifications. This discourages skilled women from re-entering the workforce, causing companies to miss out on valuable talent.

It is high time to change this mindset. By embracing work from home options for women and flexible work arrangements, companies can retain a large pool of qualified, experienced employees and create a more inclusive, productive workplace.