PoSH Training for Media & Entertainment
The media and entertainment sector usually operates differently from most industries. Late working hours and off-site shoots can carry a disproportionately higher risk of workplace sexual harassment than most conventional work environments.
The Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (the “PoSH Act”) accounts for this reality. Under Section 2(o), “workplace” extends beyond a fixed office, including sets, studios, and casting rooms.
Complykaro provides end-to-end PoSH training and compliance to more than 700 organisations, helping media houses and talent agencies build safer, more inclusive workplaces.
Strengthen your media company’s PoSH compliance with expert training and policy support
Why PoSH Training Matters in Media & Entertainment
- Failing to comply exposes the organisation to statutory fines, with repeat offences resulting in cancellation of business licences or registrations.
- A single unaddressed incident can destroy brand image in the industry.
- Many OTT platforms may need verified PoSH compliance as a contractual condition before funding a production.
What Makes PoSH Uniquely Complex in This Industry
- Intimate scenes and physical performances require clear protocols to separate creative direction from unwelcome behaviour.
- Reporting channels tend to fail when future career opportunities depend on influence.
- A lack of institutional oversight during off-site shoots, auditions, and industry events.
- Contract crew and visiting talent tend to fall outside traditional HR policies.
- Misconduct on digital casting networks is becoming a growing industry problem.
Legal Obligations Under the PoSH Act
- Any media entity with 10 or more employees is legally obligated to form an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC/IC).
- Employers are required to conduct training and awareness programmes at regular intervals for permanent employees, ICC members, senior leadership, and temporary personnel.
- Organisations have to maintain a confidential complaints process, accessible to all women employees.
Complykaro’s PoSH Solutions for Media and Entertainment
- ICC/IC training: Training the Internal Complaints Committee to conduct inquiries and handle PoSH complaints filed by aggrieved women employees.
- PoSH policy and compliance documentation: Assistance with PoSH policy drafting and review, ICC/IC constitution orders, nomination drafts, and annual report filing.
- Employee and leadership training: Educating employees and senior management on identifying and appropriately reporting sexual harassment.
- External member services: Providing a qualified external member to serve on your ICC, bringing impartiality and subject matter familiarity to the inquiry process.
Programme Formats and Delivery
- Scenario-based workshops: Instructor-led training that addresses real sexual harassment situations from production environments rather than just abstract legal definitions.
- Mobile-first learning: Multilingual e-learning modules that production employees, on-set talent, ICC/IC members, HRBPs, senior leadership, and managers can complete on their phones.
- Visual aids: Posters and reference guides designed for active sets and crew areas.
Protect your crew, talent, and teams with structured PoSH training and compliance support
Outcomes for Media Organisations
A proactive approach to PoSH compliance protects both the people behind the production and the business built around it.
- Legal Protection Across Every Project: PoSH compliance, along with a properly constituted ICC, protects your organisation from statutory penalties and reputational exposure.
- Safety Enables Creativity: A safer workplace can reduce attrition between projects, protecting the continuity that creative work mainly depends on.
- Compliance as a Commercial Credential: OTT platforms and studios increasingly prefer to partner with production houses with PoSH compliance frameworks in place.
Whether setting up an ICC for the first time or strengthening an existing framework, contact Complykaro to build a workplace that is safe from sexual harassment.
FAQs
1. Does PoSH apply to freelancers and contract crew?
Yes. Under Section 2(n), “employee” covers anyone engaged directly or through an agency, be it contractual, temporary, or daily-wage. So, freelancers and contract crew engaged for a single project are fully covered.
2. Are background performers and interns covered?
Yes. Background workers and interns are covered under Section 2(n) of the PoSH Act. Their temporary status doesn’t affect their right to a safe working space or ICC access.
3. How can the remote/off-site crew report incidents?
An aggrieved woman can submit her complaint directly to the Internal Complaints Committee in writing within 90 days of the incident or the last incident (in case of multiple incidents). As per the PoSH Act, employers are mandated to share ICC contact details and complaint procedures with all remote and off-site personnel.
4. Is PoSH training obligatory for independent production houses and talent agencies?
Yes, section 4 of the PoSH Act requires all organisations to conduct annual refresher programmes for employees as well as the ICC (formed in case the entity has 10 or more employees).
5. Who sits on an ICC for a media/production company?
Per Section 4, the ICC should include a senior woman employee as presiding officer, at least two other employees, and one external member from an NGO or a lawyer or any other person familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment.
Rishab is a seasoned professional with over 10 years of invaluable hands-on experience in client-facing roles that span his career. His expertise lies in cultivating successful strategic partnerships that benefit all stakeholders. With a keen aptitude for organizational management, Rishab excels at fostering enduring client relationships. His dedication centers around enhancing Complykaro’s visibility and brand esteem. At Complykaro, Rishab spearheads pivotal responsibilities, including business development, strategic planning, and operational excellence.
