Thomas Cook (India) Group, India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, was recently selected as one of the Working Mother & AVTAR 100 Best Companies for Women in India 2017. The companies within the Thomas Cook India Group that were a part of the survey included SITA-Travel Corp (India), Thomas Cook India and SOTC.
In India, women who work full time are also responsible for managing household chores ranging from cleaning, cooking, taking care of their children, social and religious obligations, etc. Unfortunately the maturity to accept women as equals is often lacking in the country, with a rather traditional/patriarchal attitude exhibited. This social attitude tends to spill onto the workplace as well.
Against this backdrop, it was important for Thomas Cook India to take a stand and empower its women workforce to get their fair share, be confident and feel safe in their work environment. The company launched a unique initiative, Women of Will (WOW), as a platform for this dynamic workforce, enabling them to share their dreams, their challenges and support each other and the organisation to achieve their professional and personal goals.
Thomas Cook India aims at establishing a working environment that encourages all its employees to fully demonstrate their capabilities in the workplace and has incorporated various measures, policies and programmes that address issues such as organisational development, vital to motivate all employees to fully demonstrate their capabilities without regard to gender.
Mona Cheriyan, president & group Head, Human Resources, Thomas Cook (India), said, “We strive to give equal opportunities for growth to both women and men at the workplace. We are hence delighted with the honour of being counted among the Top 100 Best Companies for women in India. We have a fair number of women leaders and continue to mentor women in the workplace to take on more strategic roles. The leisure industry lends opportunities for women and we ensure that some roles where women have special skills and an eye for detail are staffed with female employees.”
Cheriyan reiterated, “As an organisation the Thomas Cook India Group aims to have an inclusive culture. We do not discriminate between genders. We are clear that the competencies of a person are not necessarily in line with the person’s gender!”