Credit Suisse's Return to Work Program a Hit

Credit Suisse observed a high success rate under their return to work program called Real Returns. This is a paid employment program that focuses on training, support and networking for professionals who have been out of work for a long period of time. This particularly benefits women professionals who take a break to raise a child, for example.

There is an assessment process that takes place to select the professionals to join the Real Returns program; out of 130 women applicants, 23 were selected. And a huge number of participants were absorbed by the bank.

"Upon completing the program, over 70 per cent of the participants have accepted full-time offers of employment at the bank, with many of them taking up officer-grade positions," TOI quoted a company statement as saying.  The news report also quotes Mickey Doshi, CEO India at Credit Suisse, as saying, "We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, and Real Returns is a very positive way for us to do this. The program has attracted highly skilled individuals and has provided the bank with access to experienced professionals with proven, transferable skills who may not otherwise have been considered due to their time away from the workplace for various reasons."

The program was initially rolled out in New York and London in 2014, reached Zurich in 2015; in the Asia Pacific region, India was the first country where they rolled out the program. Return to work programs allow time for participants to get back in touch with their professional roots and give them an oft-needed buffer gap to adjust to the new environment. With the help of mentors, this program coordinates with the participants to get back to their feet with the skills that will give them a chance to be employed again.