Mahindra & Mahindra Launches 5-Year Motherhood Support Policy for Women Employees

Mumbai: Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has set a new benchmark in the manufacturing sector by introducing a five-year “career reassurance and flexibility” policy for women employees during their motherhood journey. The policy covers pre-childbirth, maternity, and post-maternity stages, offering comprehensive support to enable women to care for their families while advancing in their careers.

A key feature of the program is the 3-year post-childbirth support, which includes six months of flexible work options and a 24-month hybrid work arrangement. Women employees can also travel for critical work purposes with their child (up to 2 years old) and a caregiver.

M&M aims to attract more female talent to the organization with this five-year program. Currently, women represent only 8% of the workforce at M&M, which is in line with the industry average in the automobile sector.

M&M’s new policy stands out in the manufacturing sector, where women often truncate their careers after childbirth. According to data, only seven out of eleven manufacturing companies offer phase-back support post-maternity leave, with an average duration of 2.4 months. M&M’s policy is the most extensive, offering up to three years of support.

Saundarya Rajesh, Founder and President of Avtar Group, emphasized the importance of flexibility in women’s careers, particularly for returning mothers. She hailed M&M’s post-maternity hybrid work model as a game-changer that could redefine manufacturing as a more female-friendly industry.

Other companies are also recognizing the importance of retaining female employees by offering flexibility at different stages of their lives. For example, Tata Sons provides 18 months of half-pay half-working day post-maternity support and allows women to choose their working hours after five years of service.