Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 12: Effective workplace management ensures a safe and inclusive workplace culture for employees and prioritizes gender equality. Addressing the issue of workplace sexual harassment has become mandatory for organizations as the number of women in the workforce is growing rapidly. Workplace sexual harassment is a sensitive area that, if not dealt with great care, can create a hostile and insecure work environment.
With this in mind, a session on the POSH Act 2013 (Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace – Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal), ICC (Internal Complaints Committee), and CPC (Child Protection Committee) was organized for the staff of St Aloysius PU College. The resource persons were Dr Reema Agnes Frank, associate professor (HR), Manel Srinivas Nayak Institute of Management and Nanditha Sunil, assistant professor, MSNIM.
Nanditha Sunil gave an excellent presentation on the POSH Act. She began her session by disclosing astounding statistics on incidents of sexual harassment in the Indian workplace, explaining how the majority of cases are not reported, and how an alarming number of companies do not follow proper procedures when such cases are reported. Explaining why women remain silent or are hesitant to report harassment, Nanditha highlighted how deeply rooted the fear of retaliation and being ostracized is among women. Tracing the history of the law against workplace harassment, she described the long-drawn process of the law's genesis.
Nanditha stated that despite Article 14 of the Constitution, which assures the right to life and dignity for women, it took 16 years for the POSH Act to be formulated and put into effect. The resource person further discussed the typical forms of sexual harassment in the workplace and their impact. She elaborated on the conduct considered inappropriate under the law and how it leaves long-lasting emotional, physical, and career-related effects. Expounding on the key compliances of Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal under the POSH Act, she clarified the duties of an employer in providing a safe workplace for women and explained how the Internal Complaints Committees work. She also briefed the audience on the monitoring and reporting processes undertaken by the ICC.
Dr Reema Frank addressed the issues of inappropriate behavior towards women at workplace and sexual harassment in the digital workplace. Dr Frank later elucidated the procedure followed by the ICC in dealing with cases of workplace harassment. She provided details about the importance of evidence and written complaints, as well as how confidentiality is maintained during proceedings. She also explained what constitutes false and malicious complaints. Analyzing the general obligations of an employer to safeguard the workplace, she explained the penalties for non-compliance.
Dr Frank further described child sexual abuse, delving into the details of the types of child sexual abuse, recognizing signs of abuse and neglect, and how to respond to a victim of abuse. She also briefed the audience on the duties of the Child Protection Committee.
The session concluded with a Q&A segment, where the resource persons addressed queries from the staff, emphasizing the need for awareness and proactive measures in preventing workplace harassment. The session was both informative and eye-opening, highlighting the importance of implementing the POSH Act effectively to create a safer and more inclusive work environment. The college thanked Dr Reema Agnes Frank and Nanditha Sunil for their invaluable insights, which will undoubtedly contribute to fostering a culture of respect and dignity within the institution.