MUMBAI: State Bank of India (SBI) is studying the technological feasibility of allowing women employees to work out of home for some functions. The bank's IT department will advise the management whether it is possible to have systems in place for monitoring and supervising work being done remotely.
Arundhati Bhattacharya, the first woman to head the bank in 208 years, had said that she would be looking at ways to increase retention of women staff. After she took charge, the bank announced that it would allow women to take a two-year sabbatical from work in case they want it for children's education or taking care of parents.
Speaking to TOI while flagging off the SBI Pinkathon, a marathon for women aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer, Bhattacharya said that, while 38-40 per cent of recruits were women, their high dropout rate resulted in women accounting for just of 20 per cent of the workforce.
At present, the strength of women employees in the total workforce of the bank is 45,132, which constitutes more than 20 per cent of the total staff strength of 2,22,033. Bhattacharya said that the dropouts were for various reasons, including looking after children, to relocate or to look after the elderly.
"We try to accommodate staff where transfers are concerned, but right now we are not able to provide flexible timings. We are looking at whether it is technologically possible to allow working from home," said Bhattacharya.
She said that the bank has chosen to support the Pinkathon to raise awareness of women's health.
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