- Career breaks for family responsibilities are a critical choice for many women, but returning to work poses fresh challenges.
- Tailored support programs are crucial for women reintegrating into the workforce after a career break.
- Companies like Philip Morris, JS Bank, Unilever, and Syngenta offer innovative programs to support women returning to work, including mentorship and flexible work arrangements.
- Flexible policies and initiatives are key to retaining women in the workforce after career breaks, including daycare facilities and remote work options.
Many women choose to temporarily step away from the professional arena to prioritize familial responsibilities to take a career break. These breaks are deliberate and crucial. However, when the time comes to return to work, women often encounter a fresh array of challenges and uncertainties.
This is where tailored support programs and initiatives play a crucial role, providing a structured pathway for women to reintegrate into professional spheres and reignite their professional journeys. The panel discussion, “Invest in Women – Empowering Women for Growth,” hosted by Media Matters in collaboration with WOW 360, delves into the critical theme of inspiring inclusion and highlights the importance of recognizing and empowering women for societal advancement.
The panel discussion moderated by Media Matters Communications’ Chief Operating Officer, Natasha Durrani and our Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Farhat Kapadia Mehboob features accomplished women from diverse industries who have made significant impact in their respective fields – Andleeb Uroos Ahmed – Head of Communications – Philip Morris Pakistan Limited, Evelyn Julia Gill – Head of Deposits, Wealth Management & CRM – JS Bank, Fatima Arshad – Head of Sustainability and Communications – Unilever Pakistan, and Humaira Ahmad – Head of HR Operations – AMEA, Syngenta.
“Invest in Women – Empowering Women for Growth.” Panel discussion on recognising the role of women. Watch the full video here:
How Pakistan’s Corporate Sector is Facilitating Programs to Accommodate Career Breaks for Women
During the discussion, these wonderful women revealed several initiatives and programs designed to support women returning to the workforce after a career break. Andleeb Uroos Ahmed, Head of Communications at Philip Morris Pakistan Limited revealed there’s a Make Your Comeback Program in place for women who take career breaks.
This program aims to bring brilliant women back into the workforce. It involves outreach efforts through social media and other channels to attract applicants. The program has successfully brought back women who have taken career breaks ranging from two to ten years. Once selected, the women participate in mentorship programs across different departments to reintegrate them into the workforce effectively.
Evelyn Julia Gill, Head of Deposits, Wealth Management & CRM – JS Bank revealed that the bank has a JS Returnship Program in place. This program is designed to bring women who have taken a career break, such as getting married or having a baby, back into the financial industry.
It includes a vertical called “Banking on Equality,” which focuses on helping women make decisions in the industry. The program goes beyond just bringing back female staff. It extends to setting up an entrepreneurial community to support local entrepreneurs, especially women, in building their businesses.
Similarly, Unilever offers programs like Career by Choice that allow women to continue their careers in more flexible arrangements, such as part-time work or flexible hours, to balance work and family responsibilities. At Syngenta, a program called Laut Aoo is set in place for women to return back to the workforce.
Companies have implemented various policy changes to support women
These include offering daycare facilities, allowing remote work, providing gender sensitivity programs, and offering financial allowances for childcare. Additionally, flexibility is highlighted as a crucial aspect of retaining women in the workforce too.
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