PoSH Policy at workplace

To ensure that an objective is completed and that workers enjoy their time at work, it is crucial that everyone feels secure and at ease in the workplace. It is crucial to make sure that any woman who comes to the workplace expecting to be in a safe environment does not suffer harm again, given the countless instances of women experiencing harassment by employees or customers. The Indian government adopted this regulation to protect women in the workplace by preventing, restricting, and eradicating sexual harassment of female employees in all workplaces. 

According to the POSH Act, there are various duties of an employer, and the employers have to perform all of them according to the POSH Act. Some of the general duties of the employer are to provide a safe working environment to all the women employees and take strict action according to the POSH Act on any complaint of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment is still a taboo in our culture, and it may lead to a toxic and chaotic work atmosphere. The sexual humiliation or abuse of an individual by another individual is referred to as a sexual harassment activity. One definition of sexual harassment at work is “systematic violence against any gender.” Unfortunately, such strange practices are favoured in our nation, where equality between men and women is the norm.

The POSH Act defines sexual harassment as any one or more of the unwanted acts or behaviours (whether committed directly or impliedly) towards women as follows:

• Physical contact and advances; or
• A demand or request for sexual favours; or
• Making sexually coloured remarks; or
• Showing pornography; or
• Any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

If any of the following situations arises, is present in connection with, or is related to any of the sexual harassment acts or behaviours mentioned above, it would also qualify as sexual harassment: 

• A promise of favourable treatment in her job, whether implicit or explicit; or
• A warning that she would face unfavourable treatment at work; or
• A danger to her current or potential job, whether implicit or explicit;
• Interfering with her work or making her work environment frightening, insulting, or hostile; or
• Treatment that is degrading and might endanger her health or safety.

The total world population comprises both men and women population but still, women have to face various kinds of difficulties and issues only because of their gender. Women face discrimination in several places, and they are treated unequally without any reason by our male-dominated society. Sexual exploitation of women in the workplace is also a kind of gender-based violence that comes under gender discrimination. Sexual harassment not only violates women’s self-esteem or dignity, but it violates their constitutional and human rights as well. Various enactments talk about and protect the rights of women internationally as well. In India, we have the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, which is commonly known as the POSH Act.