Brands
Give a missed call and join HUL’s fight against corruption
MUMBAI: In 2011, when Anna Hazare led the anti-corruption movement along with the likes of Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, the country fed up of the ailment joined in the momentum as well.
People, especially youngsters, wanting a better India, didn’t hesitate to step out of their comfort zone and take the matter in their hands.
Be it a metro or a small village, corruption can be seen everywhere. This anti-social element is not only killing India’s value system, ethical codes and moral chains but also the economy. To counter it, many including brands are doing their bit to change the system.
Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) Cannes Lions winner, Kan Khajura Tesan, has undertaken an initiative that will take the fight against corruption to every Indian’s doorstep. Since the issue strikes a chord with every Indian, the anticipated response might go on to create a world record.
This independence day week, Kan Khajura Tesan aims to set a world record by getting as many missed calls as possible in 120 hours from the people of India on its toll free number 1800-30-000-123. To pledge against corruption, the audience has to give a missed call on the number from their mobile phones. In return, Kan Khajura Tesan will donate Re 1 for every 100 missed calls received between 13 August and 17 August to the National Anti Corruption Investigation Bureau. Once the consumer gives a missed call to Kan Khajura Tesan, in a few seconds the consumer will receive a call back from the channel to confirm their participation in the endeavour to set a world record along with 20 minutes of free entertainment.
Hindustan Unilever vice president Priya Nair said, “Kan Khajura Tesan is one of India’s biggest, free and on-demand radio channels with over 1.4 crore subscribers and more than 25 crore minutes of radio engagement. With this initiative, we want to use this powerful platform to drive a social change. The initiative of pledging against corruption has never been attempted at this level anywhere in the world yet, and with the support of Indians we want to create a record of which every Indian can be proud.”
Kan Khajura Tesan, the country’s first free and on-demand entertainment mobile radio channel owned by HUL was launched in October 2013 in Bihar and Jharkhand and the service was expanded in August 2014 across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
