Covid-19 has become the talk of the town, pushing other relevant matters like PoSH Training for employees to the sidelines. Naturally so. A crisis is a crisis, and it demands firefighting. But it doesn’t stop some people from taking advantage of vulnerable others. It is natural for some people to dominate and assert their power when circumstances are such that they are more likely to get away with it.
Just like wars in the history of the world have shown us, this is when the disadvantaged sections of the society, especially women, are subjected to rapes, sexual assaults, and other types of violence. Increase in Domestic Violence is a case in point now, with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing it as a “horrifying global surge” and BBC’s well-documented news on What India’s lockdown did to domestic abuse victims. It is proof that some people (both genders) exert their power and lay it thick when the woman has nowhere to escape. Femicides in Argentina have reached a 10-year high under lockdown.
What type of Sexual Harassment has increased?
Women are facing new forms of online sexual harassment, according to UK’s Independent, including Zoom bombing. Zoom bombers often intrude into a video conference call and hurl sexist abuses or show pornography. Unwanted intrusions into the home’s privacy are no more out-of-line, with calls happening at odd hours being considered ok even with senior management. The management wants its employees to have their camera on at all times. They want their employees to be in full view of the camera, such that their whole self is visible during the call.
Colleagues are making inappropriate comments on the dress & the appearance of the woman. They ask the woman if she is feeling disturbed by the children in the background, while lounging under-dressed, thus making the woman feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. Is there a general over-confidence that women are too busy managing work, household chores, children, and other family members, to make a complaint?
The uncertainty of the complaint process and the feasibility of the inquiry concerning practicalities during Work From Home could keep the women from reporting to PoSH Committee Members.
Are women less likely to complain in the Covid-19 era?
Apparently not. Women may be extremely overworked, or Covid-19 may have locked them out of jobs, as per Livemint, but they are in no mood to ignore harassment or bullying. Shweta Salve, Indian Television actress and model, started an online trend #IgnoreNoMore while supporting her Yoga teacher against lewd comments (allegedly by a 16-year-old) and threatened to report them. Ekta Kapoor recently broke her silence on receiving death and rape threats by social media trolls. TikTok star-turned BJP leader Sonali Phogat took matters in her hand and thrashed an official with slippers (the police booked both). Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s niece alleged sexual harassment by his brother, her uncle, and filed an FIR with Delhi police.
Thanks to #MeToo, people are finally hearing women’s voices. Social media’s power has enabled this, and women do not want their voices to die out.
Are courts taking a serious view of sexual harassment-related petitions?
Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court imposed a hefty fine of 25 lacs on an entity (in the form of compensation to the aggrieved woman), and a penalty of 50,000 for not complying with the PoSH Law of India, showing the seriousness of courts in dealing with petitions by complainants of sexual harassment. A senior marketing manager of Global Health Pvt. Ltd., known by the trade name Medanta Hospital, had made a complaint against her superior officer, alleging interference with work and creating an intimidating and hostile work environment. The HC also pulled the Managing Director of Medanta for ignoring her appeals for help.
Online sexual harassment is also a creation of a hostile work environment, punishable under the PoSH Law of India. It can sometimes take an ugly turn towards Quid Pro Quo when a man asks for a favor (of sexual nature) in return for support or makes a threat if the woman does not grant that favor.
What can Rainmaker training do?
Compliance of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act and Rules 2019 (“Law”)
- Formulate a PoSH Policyagainst Sexual Harassment at the Workplace
- Constitute a PoSH Internal Committeeas stipulated in the Law
- Appoint a PoSH External Memberfor the Internal Committee
- Organize PoSH Training for employeesat regular intervals
- Display Posters and Notices as per the Law
- Submit Annual Report on Sexual Harassment complaints
- Statement in the Annual Board Report as per The Companies Act
Better prevention than cure. We, at Rainmaker, assist organizations in complying with the above mandates of the PoSH Law and preventing sexual harassment of any kind (virtual or physical) by providing highly engaging PoSH Awareness Training as well as In-Person workshops. PoSH ICC Workshop thoroughly trains the PoSH Committee Members so that they are well equipped to deal with a complaint if it arises. Rainmaker offers complete PoSH Solutions at the workplace.
Let’s foster an all-inclusive workplace together!
Author: Sumali Nagarajan
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