Seeking Ideas for an MBA Project on Women Employees in the Workplace: Any Suggestions?

Hi, I am Karthi, currently pursuing my MBA. Could anyone suggest a topic focused on women employees within an organization? I am eagerly awaiting your replies.

Some topics for women employees include security measures for women, extra benefits, and scheduling, etc.

Thank you.

Thanks, Chitti. I am more concerned about these topics because I am doing my main project where the survey has to be taken only for 60 to 70 women in a company. So, thanks a lot. I feel comfortable with your suggestions.

Here are a few topics:

- Work-life balance
- Sexual harassment
- Maternity leave
- Safety measures
- Wage differences

Regards, Babu

Mr. Babu has suggested a lot of worthy topics. Although there is a full-fledged law, the "Maternity Benefit Act," in most organizations (whether small, medium, large, Indian, or MNC), the benefits under this act are not extended to women employees. In such cases, steps are taken as soon as it is learned that a woman is pregnant to ensure that she is sent out as soon as possible. If the woman employee continues to work accidentally, she is flatly refused the benefit or threatened in soft language.

You may conduct a comparative study in various industries on the extension of the Maternity Benefit Act. However, you will have to ensure that your questionnaire covers the minutest and in-depth aspects of the benefits part of the act, as both the women employee and the employer are likely to deceive you. Pose a lot of questions, each contradictory to the other, after a certain number of questions in the questionnaire and try to get answers to each of them.

Similarly, another worthy topic is the wage difference.

Wishing you the best of luck.

If any further guidance is required, you can write to me at sangsun_sadar@yahoo.com.

Thank you, Mr. Babu and Mr. Sunil. Your suggestions were great. However, I am concerned that the women employees might be hesitant to share their views and perceptions, which could significantly impact my survey. Anyway, thank you for your suggestions. This means a lot to me.

Hi Karthi,

I do not think you have a reason to fear! Most organizations employing women are aware of legal provisions and keep themselves immune from that. However, since you are doing this for a project, I think you should concentrate on both primary and secondary data. For women employees, there are certain topics covered by law. Study the adherence pattern of them, and you will notice a trend (some data will be available with the statistical department). The areas are:

1. Factories Act (Employment of women employees, provision for a creche, etc.)

2. Shops & Establishment Acts of various states (regarding working hours, care provisions, etc.)

3. Maternity Benefit Act and ESI Act (for maternity benefits, extension of maternity leave, etc.)

4. Equal Remuneration Act

5. Salary agreements of various unions, especially where women employees are employed.

In the non/para-statutory areas, look for:

1. Corporate governance (for sexual harassment, discrimination, etc.)

2. Policies governing women employees.

I think this should provide you with some data to work on.

Regards & best of luck

Dear Karthi,

You are making the same mistake as other students. You have not provided enough information about the scenario. For instance, will you be conducting the study in a single organization? If so, how large is the organization? What category of workers do the 50 to 70 members belong to that you can access? Does the company have any specific problems that they would like you to address? Any project you undertake in an organization should also be beneficial to them.

Have a nice day.

Simhan
A retired academic in the UK