MAM
Manish Menon joins Madison World to head human resources
Mumbai: Madison World has appointed Manish Menon as vice president of human resources. He will be based in the agency’s Mumbai office.
Throughout his 24-year career, Menon has gained a wealth of experience working in diverse sectors, including media agencies, brands, and consulting. With extensive experience in talent strategy, learning & development, human resources technology, and talent acquisition, his track record is punctuated by numerous accolades for organizations that he has worked with, including ‘Best Employer Brand’ awards and recognitions such as a ‘Dream Company to Work for’. In this role, he will work closely with the leadership to craft and execute the people & culture strategy and spearhead the talent team’s efforts to deliver a delightful employee experience. He has left a significant impact on organizations like GroupM, Alembic Pharma, Parle Agro, and Viu (OTT) before joining Madison World.
Announcing Menon’s appointment, Madison World chairman Sam Balsara said, “We have a number of new initiatives planned for Madison to face the ever-changing environment we live in. Manish joins us at the right time and his agency experience will help him head the function effectively to even further help our Clients improve ROI on their Brand investments.”
Speaking about his new role at Madison World, Menon said, “I am thrilled to join Madison at a time when the company is poised to grow significantly across all of its businesses, and I am fully committed to elevating People as the company’s defining characteristic in the industry.”
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.
