Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad organized an in-depth and highly practical guest session on the Maternity Benefit Act for the MBA students as part of the Human Resource Management curriculum. The session was conducted by Dr. Poulami Ghosh, an experienced HR professional and consultant with extensive expertise in labour laws, policy formulation, leadership development, and employee relations.
The objective of the session was to provide students with a holistic understanding of the Maternity Benefit Act, including its legal provisions, recent reforms, managerial responsibilities, ethical considerations, and real-world implementation challenges faced by HR professionals. The session also aimed to bridge the gap between statutory compliance and humane HR practices, especially in sensitive situations involving confidentiality, employee well-being, and organizational sustainability.
In addition to statutory learning, the session incorporated interactive activities such as career mapping and case study analysis, enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge to real organizational dilemmas.
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Hyderabad, conducted an in-person guest session on the Maternity Benefit Act on 2nd February 2026 for MBA students. The session was facilitated by Dr. Poulami Ghosh, Chief Learning & Development and Human Resource Consultant, who brought extensive industry experience and legal expertise to the classroom. The session was designed to provide both theoretical clarity and practical exposure to contemporary HR challenges related to employee welfare and labour law compliance.
Pic 1. Dr. Poulami Ghosh addressing the session
The session commenced with a career mapping activity, where students were guided to reflect on their long-term professional goals, core competencies, and areas of development within the HR domain. Dr. Ghosh emphasized that an HR professional’s effectiveness is directly linked to their understanding of labour laws, employee rights, and organizational responsibilities. She highlighted that expertise in statutory frameworks such as the Maternity Benefit Act adds strategic value to HR roles and enhances professional credibility.
Following the career mapping exercise, the session progressed to a case study discussion centred on a scenario involving sudden attrition within an organization. Students were asked to analyze how HR professionals should communicate such sensitive information while maintaining confidentiality, protecting organizational interests, and addressing employee concerns. Dr. Ghosh discussed the managerial dilemma faced by HR when transparency must be balanced with discretion, reinforcing that confidentiality is not merely a policy requirement but a foundation of trust between employees and the organization.
Pic 2. Students attending the session
Pic 3. Explanation of Maternity Benefit Act
A major segment of the session focused on the Maternity Benefit Act, during which Dr. Ghosh explained its evolution, objectives, and key amendments in detail. She elaborated on the eligibility criteria, the duration of maternity leave, and the employer's obligations under the Act. Special emphasis was placed on the progressive reforms introduced to address the changing needs of the workforce, particularly the increased participation of women in formal employment.
The session further covered facilities and benefits for new mothers, including paid maternity leave, nursing breaks, crèche facilities, job protection, and flexible work arrangements where applicable. Dr. Ghosh also explained the provisions applicable to surrogate mothers and adoptive mothers, highlighting the inclusive intent of the legislation. These discussions helped students understand how maternity policies must be framed to ensure fairness, compliance, and employee well-being.
Drawing from real organizational experiences discussed during the session, Dr. Ghosh highlighted the practical challenges faced by HR professionals, such as workforce planning during maternity leave, resistance from line managers, cost considerations, and policy misinterpretation. She emphasized that effective HR practice requires a balance between legal compliance, empathy, and business continuity.
Additional discussions during the session addressed broader HR themes such as ethical leadership, emotional intelligence, accountability, and the evolving role of HR as a strategic partner. Dr. Ghosh stressed that HR professionals must act as responsible decision-makers who uphold organizational values while safeguarding employee dignity and rights.
The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, where students actively engaged with the speaker to clarify doubts related to real-life HR scenarios, maternity policy implementation, and confidentiality management.
Pic 4. Group Photograph with MBA HR Students
The guest session on the Maternity Benefit Act was highly informative and application oriented. It successfully integrated statutory knowledge with experiential learning through activities and case discussions. The session enhanced students’ understanding of the legal, ethical, and managerial dimensions of HR practice, particularly in relation to employee welfare and sensitive decision-making. Overall, the session contributed meaningfully to students’ academic learning and professional readiness, reinforcing the importance of compliant, ethical, and humane HR practices in modern organizations.
