Sexual Harassment in the Work Place Act: Steps to Comply with It

PoSH Training is a must in companies. The lack of adequate data regarding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace act of 2013 and women’s rights causes major problems like sexual harassment. The majority of the women working in companies are sceptical about reporting it in the right way.

This is followed by a big question - whom to report and where to report the instance? What steps to take and proofs that would prove their cause in the best possible way is also equally problematic for them. 

What are the Steps that the Victim can Take While Encountering Sexual Harassment?

"You get to decide where your time goes. You can either spend it moving forward, or you can spend it putting out fires. You decide. And if you don’t decide, others will decide for you.” —Tony Morgan

There are Several Steps That She (Victim) Can Take:

• Ask the perpetrator about his/her intention. 
• Reach out immediately to an authority if the inappropriate behaviour continues.
• If the victim is not comfortable, a friend or family member can reach out on her behalf. 

A Few Realities of Women and the Workplace 

Here are a few fact checks:

• One out of every four employees in a company is a woman
• One out of every three women have faced sexual harassment in the workplace in some form
• The majority of companies don't have a good structure to deal with sexual harassment at the workplace.

The above data states that these shortcomings are part of a company's functioning. Firms should look into their strategy of addressing the sexual harassment of women in the workplace. The Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Act clearly states that companies need to have a good structure to address grievances. However, even after the PoSH law, many organizations lag in implementing it.

Why is Documentation Necessary?

According to the PoSH Act, the corporations document an annual PoSH compliance report to the ministry of women and child development. Ceasing to function would put forward major questions on the Compliance of PoSH policy of the firm and can stimulate the Government for prosecution against them. Thus, the businesses must become PoSH compliant and implement policies that can safeguard their brand value from the messes of prosecutions associated with sexual harassment at the workplace. 

Final Word: Awareness Program for Employees

"The act does provide for redressal of false complaints and punitive actions against a complainant who raises malicious complaints. The act speaks about confidentiality, proper investigation and due process to be followed before taking action against the respondent."

The awareness program for employees’ necessities to be monitored, reviewed, and regularised. Yearly PoSH sessions should not be an option.

Any company must make new employees familiar with the company’s policy. It helps in preventing issues of sexual harassment at the workplace in future. This will perform as a reminder to the employees along with a behavioural guide. The employee will recognize the kind of penal actions that could be carried against them for not obeying the standards of the Sexual Harassment in the Workplace act policy.