DBS Bank India has rolled out a programme aimed at women who are transitioning back into the workspace, including new mothers.
This initiative is part of the bank’s focus on developing a more diverse workforce and supporting employees through different life stages.
The organisation has developed a six-month internship programme wherein shortlisted returnees will engage in projects and receive guidance from industry leaders within a supportive environment to enable a smoother transition back to work. The programme involves hands-on experience as well.
“We have introduced this six-month internship for women returning to work in a very intentional way so that we can build a pipeline of skilled talent, while helping employees grow their careers in the long term,” said Kishore Poduri, managing director and country head – HR at DBS Bank India.
The programme titled ‘Reimagine’ will support participants with suitable training programmes to help develop their skills.
Individuals who re-enter the workplace after a career break may find it difficult getting back to the demands of corporate life, particularly given the pace at which technology and the workplace are evolving. In addition to this, women particularly could also face challenges with unconscious bias or balancing work-life demands.
“While this is one more step in our journey, some of our earlier programmes have already shown promising results,” Poduri said. “For instance, in 2023, the overall engagement score for women in DBS Bank India increased by 13% compared to the previous year.”
Effective this year, DBS Bank India has also extended its paternity and adoption leave for new fathers from two weeks to four weeks in an effort to advance parity and enable a more balanced sharing of parental responsibilities.
DBS is a financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. It is headquartered and listed in Singapore. DBS Bank has been present in India for 30 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. It now has a network of approximately 530 branches in 19 Indian states.
