Mahindra Auto, part of the Mahindra Group, has been recognized in the 2024 Just Auto Excellence Awards with a Social award for its outstanding contributions to social excellence, particularly in fostering an inclusive workplace and empowering women.
The Just Auto Excellence Awards celebrate the greatest achievements and innovations in the automotive industry. Powered by GlobalData’s business intelligence, the Awards recognize the people and companies that are driving change in the industry.
Mahindra Auto won the award for empowering women through its Women Led Network, which fosters an inclusive environment and supports female employees’ professional growth. The company was recognized for its economic empowerment initiatives, which have created sustainable livelihood opportunities for women across India. Additionally, Mahindra’s groundbreaking five-year maternity policy earned accolades for providing comprehensive support to working mothers, ensuring they can balance family and career aspirations effectively.
Mahindra’s women-led network: Empowering female employees
Mahindra’s Women Led Network (WLN) is a cornerstone of the company’s efforts to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for its female workforce. Central to Mahindra’s DEI endeavors, the WLN is an Employee Resource Group that facilitates connections among women, enabling them to share experiences and offer mutual guidance and support. This initiative is part of Mahindra’s broader DEI strategy, which is deeply embedded in its organizational culture. The company’s segmented DEI framework—head, heart, and hand—guides targeted initiatives, including leadership programs for women and policies like the five-year maternity policy.
During International Women’s Day, the WLN organized a series of impactful events, such as speed mentoring sessions where women connected with experienced mentors for guidance and support. Additionally, Mahindra prioritized women’s health by offering free comprehensive health screenings, including mammograms and pap smears, underlining the organization’s dedication to promoting holistic well-being. The WLN also utilized innovative methods like theatre and drama to discuss inclusive behaviors and address unconscious biases, receiving overwhelming positive feedback from both leaders and employees. These initiatives underscore Mahindra’s commitment to fostering a workplace where women feel valued and empowered.
Economic empowerment through strategic initiatives
Mahindra’s approach to economic empowerment is both strategic and impactful, focusing on creating sustainable economic opportunities for women across India. The company’s four-step strategy—Mobilise, Skill, Counsel, and Place—aims to address the multifaceted challenges women face in entering the workforce. By conducting outreach programs, Mahindra raises awareness about livelihood opportunities, while its skill development initiatives impart both domain and soft skills, followed by formal assessments to ensure job readiness. The counsel phase involves aspiration mapping and expectation setting, making women job-ready and aligning their career goals with available opportunities. Finally, Mahindra facilitates formal employment, enabling women to secure stable positions in various industries.
This comprehensive approach has empowered 770,000 women across 19 states, enhancing their economic independence and contributing to gender equality in the workforce. Mahindra’s partnerships with 2,000 educational institutions further amplify its reach and impact, solidifying its role as a catalyst for change in women’s economic empowerment.
Revolutionizing maternity support with a five-year Policy
Mahindra’s innovative five-year maternity policy exemplifies its commitment to supporting women through the transformative journey of motherhood. This comprehensive policy provides pre-childbirth support, extended maternity leave, and post-maternity flexibility, ensuring that new mothers can balance their family and career aspirations. The policy includes a year of pre-childbirth support, offering comfort during commutes and prioritizing well-being during business travel. It also provides a 75% reimbursement for IVF treatment costs and a week of paid leave for those undergoing the process.
New mothers benefit from an extended 26-week maternity leave, inclusive of adoption and surrogacy cases, and financial support through maternity expense reimbursement. Post-maternity, the policy offers flexible work arrangements and a monthly ‘Baby Care Allowance’ for children under two years. Mahindra also ensures career stability by maintaining performance pay levels during part-time work and ensuring that maternity leave does not affect promotion decisions.
This policy reflects Mahindra’s broader perspective on inclusivity, aiming to retain gender diversity and make women feel they do not have to choose between their careers and family life. By addressing the unique challenges faced by working mothers, Mahindra supports women during a critical life stage.
Company Profile
The Mahindra Group, established in 1945, stands as a prominent multinational federation of companies, boasting a workforce of 260,000 employees across more than 100 countries. Renowned for its leadership in various sectors, Mahindra holds a dominant position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology, and financial services within India. Notably, it is recognized as the world’s largest tractor company by volume, underscoring its significant impact on the global agricultural machinery market. Beyond these core areas, Mahindra has diversified its operations with a robust presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality, and real estate, reflecting its commitment to innovation and sustainable growth.
Central to Mahindra’s mission is its dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with a strategic focus on fostering rural prosperity and enhancing urban living. The Group is driven by a vision to effect positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders, encapsulated in its guiding philosophy to enable them to “Rise.” This commitment is evident in its initiatives aimed at driving sustainable development and improving quality of life, positioning Mahindra as a leader in corporate responsibility and a catalyst for societal advancement.
Contact Details
Mahindra Towers
Dr. G.M.Bhosale Marg,
P.K.Kurne Chowk,
Worli, Mumbai – 400018
India
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