348 | Making Work Work for Women in India with Achyuta Adhvaryu

Achyuta Adhvaryu is a Tata Chancellor's Endowed Professor of Economics, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Co-founder and CEO of the Good Business Lab.  Good Business Lab uses rigorous research to find a common ground between worker wellbeing and business interests. They have positively impacted the lives of 200K+ workers in 30 ongoing projects around the world.

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Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Women in the Workforce in India: Interview Transcript with Achyuta Adhvaryu

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Key Topics on Women in the Workforce in India: Interview with Achyuta Adhvaryu

Achyuta Adhvaryu Introduction

  • Guest Introduction

    • Achyuta Adhvaryu’s background as a professor of economics.

    • Co-founder and CEO of Good Business Lab.

    • Aim to balance worker well-being with business interests.

Background and Motivation

  • Achyuta’s Personal Background

    • Born in India and raised in the US.

    • Influence of visits to India on understanding poverty.

    • Drive to impact societal change through academic and nonprofit work.

Workforce Participation Issues

  • Workforce Participation Issue in India

    • Only 25% of women participate in paid work outside the home.

    • Static figure despite India's economic growth.

    • Impact on personal empowerment and economic development.

  • Challenges for Women

    • Economic dependency and detrimental relationships.

    • Limited involvement in decision-making roles.

    • Hindered broader economic and societal growth.

Economic Opportunities and Their Impact

  • Positive Impacts

    • Increased workforce participation among women in India leads to empowerment and financial independence.

    • Better resource allocation for children.

    • Economic benefits and poverty addressal.

Barriers to Women's Workforce Participation

  • Primary Barriers Identified

    • Workplace discrimination.

    • Tough work environments.

    • Competing family demands.

  • Strategies for Retention

    • Improving workplace conditions.

    • Enhancing skills.

    • Increasing promotion opportunities.

Worker Voice and Agency

  • Importance of Worker Voice

    • Employees feeling heard in their workplace.

    • Programs like employee resource groups and anonymous communication channels.

  • Technology-Enabled Solutions

    • Anonymous reporting through apps to address grievances.

    • Promoting better workplace retention and reducing exit rates.

Platform Economy and Gig Economy

  • Challenges and Opportunities

    • Inclusion of women in the platform economy.

    • Ensuring jobs are beneficial and provide growth opportunities.

Good Business Lab’s Initiatives and Impact

  • Focus Areas and Scope

    • Improving conditions in the gig economy in regions like Latin America, the Caribbean, the US, and India.

    • Breaking barriers for women to access managerial roles.

    • Aim for businesses to invest in low-income workers and reducing adversarial relationships.

  • Long-Term Goals

    • Fundamental business changes in investments.

    • Difficulty in setting a precise timeline for achieving goals.

Research Methodologies and Trials

  • Approach and Importance

    • Rigorous trials similar to medical trials with treatment and control groups.

    • Rigorous impact measurement in the social sector akin to economist methodologies.

  • Challenges in Implementation

    • Issues of perceived fairness and data collection.

    • Importance of credible impact insights and methodologies.

  • Unexpected Outcomes and Learnings

    • Surprising results preventing costly mistakes.

    • Uncovering unexpected benefits.

Organizational Growth and Dissemination

  • Evolution of Good Business Lab

    • Started with a small team, expanded with more funding.

    • Current global presence and employee count.

    • Impact on workers through studies and indirect beneficiaries.

  • Dissemination of Findings

    • Use of accessible platforms to promote research findings.

    • Generating program adoption among businesses and governments.

Global and Local Impact

  • Local Efforts in India

    • Enhanced women's workplace voice leading to better retention and productivity.

    • Investments in soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership for frontline workers.

    • Trials on early salary access reducing turnover.

  • Global Efforts and Challenges

    • Similar challenges across Latin America, China, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.

    • Issues with recruitment, promotion, and safe workplace environments.

  • Awareness and Support

    • Channels to support women's economic empowerment and workforce participation in India.

    • Encouragement for broader support through awareness.

Paul Zelizer