23% of salaried women in India believe there is a gender-based pay gap, while 16% perceive gender bias in the workplace. For 69% of salaried women, salary and career advancement are the primary factors when choosing a job, according to a survey conducted by Crisil and DBS Bank India. 

In contrast, 42% of self-employed women prioritise independence and flexible working hours. Interestingly, remote working is not highly valued among salaried women, with only 3% considering it essential. 

For self-employed women, wealth building and identifying market needs or business opportunities are top priorities, along with independence and flexible hours. The survey, which included over 800 salaried and self-employed women across 10 Indian cities, highlights these key findings. 

There is a notable difference in the perceptions of the gender pay gap and bias in the workplace between semi-affluent and affluent women in India. Affluent women, earning between Rs 41 to 55 lakhs annually, reported a higher perception of the gender pay gap, with 30% acknowledging its existence. 

In comparison, semi-affluent women, with salaries ranging from Rs 10 to 25 lakhs per year, reported a lower perception of the gender pay gap at 18%. Similarly, affluent women were more likely to perceive gender bias in the workplace, with 30% reporting such experiences, compared to 12% among semi-affluent women. 

According to the survey, negotiating salaries poses challenges for 42% of salaried women in metropolitan areas. However, the negotiation experiences vary between eastern and western regions of India. In Kolkata, 96% of salaried women find negotiating pay easy, contrasting with only 33% in Ahmedabad. 

Similarly, 77% of women in Chennai find negotiations uncomplicated, while the figure is 41% in Hyderabad. Among salaried women, unmarried individuals demonstrate a stronger appreciation for mentorship and career development opportunities compared to their married counterparts. Specifically, 26% of unmarried women express gratitude for such programs, while only 16% of married women do.

 In Kolkata, mentorship and career development programs are highly valued by 46% of salaried women, exceeding the national average of 19%. Similarly, in Delhi, 33% of salaried women prioritise childcare support facilities provided by organizations, surpassing the national average of 11%. 

Additionally, in Chennai, extended maternity benefits are considered most important by 32% of salaried women, surpassing the national average of 19%. These findings underscore the importance of implementing family-friendly policies in organizations to enhance work-life balance for women with caregiving responsibilities. 

In Pune, 35% of salaried women consider sabbatical policies to be the most valuable, significantly higher than the national average of 5%. The study also sheds light on the health-conscious behavior of female earners in India's metros, with 66% undergoing comprehensive health check-ups in the past year. 

Contrary to the stereotype of frequent dining out, only 32% dine out or order food more than once a week. Additionally, just 24% of women spend more than four hours daily on non-office screen time. The survey challenges the misconception that married women go on fewer leisure trips than unmarried women, as 32% of married women took 3-5 leisure trips in the past year, twice as many as their unmarried counterparts. 

Nearly half of the surveyed women (47%) are generous spenders, allocating more than 70% of their income. Moreover, 39% of women in this segment have high credit card spends in discretionary categories such as travel and shopping, surpassing the pan-India average of 33%. 

In both the salaried and self-employed categories, women aged 45 and over embarked on more leisure trips compared to their younger counterparts. Among salaried women, 60% of those aged 45 and over and 43% of those aged 25-35 took more than three leisure trips. 

Similarly, among self-employed women, 40% of those aged 25-35 took more than three leisure trips, while 46% of those aged 45 and over did the same. As women transition into the 36-45 age group, the demands of both work and home responsibilities increase significantly. Consequently, women in this age bracket tend to take fewer leisure trips, with the frequency of trips reaching its peak among those aged 45 and above.