Does the gender of your co-worker matter? Evidence from call centres in India

Policy brief 26 May 2021 Firms

Authors

Several theories suggest that gender integration in the workplace may have negative effects in gender-segregated societies. This study presents results from a randomised controlled trial conducted in India on the effect of gender integration on employee productivity.
The study was implemented in call centres located in five Indian cities. A total of 765 employees were randomised to either mixed-gender teams (30-50% female peers) or control groups of same-gender teams.
When employees are assigned to a mixed-gender team, the study finds precisely estimated zero effects on both productivity (intensive margin) and share of days worked during the study period (extensive margin).
There is an overall increase in peer monitoring and team support for women assigned to mixed-gender teams relative to the control team. For male employees, the study finds that conditional on being assigned to mixed-gender teams, men with progressive gender attitudes have higher productivity than men with regressive gender attitudes.
There is an overall increase in knowledge sharing, dating, and comfort with the opposite gender for male employees in mixed-gender teams, relative to all male teams.