M&M Ltd. has taken a momentous step towards inclusivity and the empowerment of working mothers with the introduction of a pioneering maternity policy that has set a new industry standard. This innovative five-year maternity policy is meticulously designed to provide comprehensive support to women employees, covering pre-childbirth, maternity, and post-maternity phases.

Ruzbeh Irani, President, Group HR, Mahindra Group and Asha Kharga, EVP, Group Customer & Brand at Mahindra Group, shared their insights on the maternity policy with The Economic Times (ET) and The Times of India (TOI).

Ruzbeh Irani, emphasised the far-reaching scope of this policy in a statement to ET: "We designed a set of initiatives that essentially span a five-year journey that includes one year pre-maternity, one year of pregnancy, and then three years post-pregnancy when the child is not yet ready to go to playschool."

Asha Kharga, echoed this sentiment and underscored the organisation's intent behind this visionary programme in her statement to TOI, saying, "We should at least move to a double-digit gender diversity” exemplifying M&M's commitment to achieving a more balanced representation of women within the company.

The policy offers an array of innovative provisions, including an extended 26-week maternity leave, which is also applicable to adoption and surrogacy. It further demonstrates M&M's sensitivity to the unique challenges women may face during their motherhood journey by providing a 45-day leave in case of miscarriage.

In the pre-childbirth stage, M&M extends significant support, such as IVF treatment reimbursement, daily commute assistance, and reserved parking for expectant mothers. These measures not only ensure the well-being of women employees but also exemplify the company's commitment to nurturing a supportive work environment.

One of the noteworthy aspects of this policy is the three-year post-childbirth support it offers. This support includes six months of flexible work and a 24 month hybrid work option from the base location, if the nature of the work/role permits, and the possibility of domestic travel with a child up to two years of age.

The policy goes further, allowing women with 36 months of service to take a sabbatical of up to one year. This provision is designed to promote work-life balance and underscores M&M's commitment to accommodating the diverse needs of its employees.

Moreover, M&M recognises the importance of career assurance for women employees.

This assurance ensures that women returning from maternity leave will not face any hindrance to their career progression. Asha Kharga also emphasised the significance of career assurance.

To ensure the seamless execution of this policy, M&M is conducting sensitisation workshops for line managers. This proactive approach is indicative of the company's dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture.

"Sensitisation is very much part of our whole agenda because that is key to smooth execution of the refreshed maternity policy," said Ruzbeh Irani to ET.

"Every quarter, our group MD & CEO Dr. Anish Shah has a meeting with senior women employees and the intention is that women will also have to drive change," added Asha Kharga.

An exclusive platform, "Back to Mahindra," has been introduced to assist former women employees in transitioning back to work. This initiative aims to provide women with opportunities for part-time or full-time projects on a hybrid working model.

M&M's ground-breaking maternity policy serves as a beacon of progress in the industry's quest for gender diversity and inclusivity. This initiative stands as a testament to the company's commitment to supporting women employees through their critical motherhood journey.

M&M's visionary maternity policy demonstrates that it is possible to strike a balance between career and family life while fostering diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. This policy not only sets a high benchmark in the manufacturing sector but also serves as an example for other organisations to follow in creating a more equitable and supportive work environment for women.

Take a look at the complete maternity policy.