We all want a workplace where every woman can walk in with a sense of security. In a world where stories of workplace harassment still make headlines, a tech breakthrough can never promise safety. We have long needed a seismic shift in the way we approach safety at work. This is the promise of PoSH, the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, passed in India in 2013. It is a key law designed specifically for this. It is the blueprint for creating workplaces where women feel safe, valued, heard, and empowered. It lays down clear rules and procedures for addressing sexual harassment. In this blog, we discover how PoSH policies empower women and have helped make workplaces safer.
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The Impact of PoSH Policies
The PoSH Act debuted in 2013 in India brought a pivotal change for women to protect against sexual harassment at work. This law mandates all companies to establish a special committee to address complaints of harassment at work. It also required companies to provide a clear process for reporting and resolving these issues.
- Empowering Women
The PoSH Act empowers women in the workplace in more ways than you can count. It has helped more women tackle life-threatening situations than you can count. It is a platform for women to voice concerns and seek justice, something which is essential for well-being and career growth. This act also promoted education about sexual harassment to prevent it from happening in the first place. When women know their rights and know the company has their back, they are more confident and effective contributors to a company’s growth.
- Promoting Accountability
One of the key strengths of the PoSH Act is its emphasis on accountability. PoSH promotes it through mandating the establishment of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) and conducting regular training. The act ensures harassment issues are not suppressed but rather addressed promptly. Other than the obvious benefit of resolving individual complaints, this sets a strong precedent for organisational behaviour. A focus on accountability encourages a cultural shift towards zero tolerance for harassment. With more and more women returning to work in the 19th century, this was a much-needed step to offer relief.
- Creating a Safe Environment
Before the PoSH Act, many workplaces lacked clear procedures for addressing harassment. This act changed this by mandating companies to have defined processes for handling complaints. This legal system gave the power to employees to report harassment without the fear of retaliation. This act helped create an environment where respect is the norm rather than a privilege of a selected few.
If you have not yet implemented this in your workplace, it is high time to draw the attention of higher management towards the need for a PoSH training program for employees.
If you are seeking POSH training for your corporate teams, EducationNest is a top choice in India. They provide expert-led training in various areas, including soft skills, IT, and cybersecurity, and even offer customizable courses.
- Providing Support and Resources
You might think resources about workplace assault are so easily available that women might already be well-educated on it. But it is seldom the case, especially since resources on how to tackle such situations are so rare. If your company effectively implements POSH policies, your employees will be backed by a huge support system to their relief. This includes internal complaint committees, counseling services, as well as regular PoSH training for employees. These resources can hugely empower women by offering them the tools and support needed at the right time. Access to these resources not only helps women navigate challenges more effectively to remain focused on their professional growth but also hugely reduces the number of harassment cases.
- Encouraging Open Dialogue
A key aspect is the role of PoSH in fostering open dialogue about harassment. Regular discussions and employee training on workplace sexual harassment raise awareness on their rights and responsibilities. This openness goes a long way in reducing the number of incidents you see yearly. It promotes a culture where women feel comfortable discussing and addressing issues as they arise.
- Building a Culture of Respect
POSH policies help build a culture of respect and professionalism. When companies prioritize PoSH training, they signal to all employees that harassment will not be tolerated. This cultural shift creates an environment where women can work without the constant worry of being undermined or mistreated.
Conclusion
Ever since the augmentation of PoSH in 2013, it has painted a picture of profound change for women in the workplace. They have challenged us to reconsider the norms and to reshape our workspaces into havens of dignity. An underrated step in ensuring women’s safety, the existence of PoSH offers a safer workplace for women. So if your workplace still lacks in this crucial step to ensure women’s safety, you can take the proactive step to help them set up a PoSH committee and start conducting regular employee training.
If you are looking for POSH training for your corporate teams, EducationNest is a leading corporate training provider in India to go to. From soft skills to IT and cybersecurity, they offer training in numerous areas and also offer customizable training courses.
