Equality, empowerment, and opportunities have been the key concerns for several decades when talking about women in the workplace. However, there is something more pressing than those issues. Today, the issue is not whether women have the right to work, but rather whether companies can afford to continue losing them.
However, the country has made significant strides when it comes to women’s labour force participation. For instance, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26, “the PLFS-based measure of female labour force participation went up from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24.” The survey posits that in order to maintain the continued economic development of India into the future, female labour force participation would need to be raised to about 55% (Economic Survey, 2025). However, there is another darker truth that lies behind this positive headline. Women keep leaving their jobs not because they lack ambition or skills, but because of workplace conditions that do not cater to their needs.
The Problem: A Personal Choice or Workplace...
