How Do You Ensure Women’s Safety in The Workplace

Employers have a legal and moral obligation to create a safe and secure work environment for all employees. In India, women are particularly the most vulnerable to sexual harassment in the workplace. It remains one of the most common yet grave issues for women to date.

A safe and encouraging working environment will not only help reduce stress but also enable productivity for your employees. Meanwhile, it also helps to reduce your legal liabilities and reputational damages as an employer.

A proactive approach towards women’s safety in the workplace communicates to your employees that you care about their well-being and take their security seriously. In this blog, we will discuss how organisations across India can ensure women’s safety in the workplace.

A] How Can Employers Ensure Safety in the Workplace?

The first step to ensure safety in the workplace is to assess the risks that are specific to your workplace. Employees have to ensure the parking lot is well-lit, the company grounds have CCTV camera coverage 24/7, and there are not any dark or blind spots in your building premises. A safety audit will help you identify all potential risk areas and deal with them accordingly. Employers must have provisions to minimise sexual harassment in the workplace for women.

The next and very important step is to define and communicate policies and procedures to address these risks. Policies can range from framing an anti-sexual harassment policy or employee codebook to an internal code of ethics, non-discrimination policy, etc.

Another important step is to promote interpersonal rapport, which facilitates open communication among employees, as well as between employees and superiors. Encourage employees to sort out their differences with each other in a peaceful and healthy manner so that there is no unnecessary discord among other employees.

B] Key Tips To Ensure Women’s Safety In The Workplace

The PoSH Act, or the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, aims to protect women from sexual harassment. Here are some ways to prevent and address sexual harassment at workplace:

1. Sensitising Employees on Sexual Harassment at Work

Periodic PoSH compliance training educates employees regarding what sexual harassment is and the acts that constitute it. These training programmes emphasise appropriate workplace behaviour, consent, and respectful communication. They sensitise employees, HRs, and senior managers to create a safe and inclusive environment, empowering employees to speak up, support victims, and create a culture that does not tolerate sexual harassment in any form.

2. Forming an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC/IC)

Forming an internal complaints committee is mandatory as per the PoSH Act of 2013. The role of ICC is to fairly investigate complaints, ensure confidentiality, and provide timely redressal to create a secure work environment. The committee must have an external member to ensure unbiased documentation and resolution.

3. Forming Strict Anti-Sexual-Harassment Policies

Every organisation dedicated to preventing sexual harassment of women must create a comprehensive and strict anti-sexual harassment policy. These policies must clearly define unacceptable behaviours, outline complaint procedures, and mention the consequences of misconduct. It is the responsibility of the organisation to communicate these policies to all staff and display them prominently.

Conclusion

Ensuring women’s safety in the workplace is not just a legal mandate but a moral duty for every employer. It is essential for every employer to take proactive measures, like conducting risk assessments, enforcing PoSH compliance, and cultivating a respectful culture throughout the organisation. According to the PoSH Act of 2013, an organisation must educate and sensitise its employees, form an internal complaints committee (ICC/IC), and have a strict anti-sexual harassment policy.

Complykaro provides assistance in not only framing an anti-sexual harassment policy but also in sensitising employees, which will help in improving their rapport and thus, the overall productivity of an organisation. We provide comprehensive PoSH awareness training in India, catering to government organisations, NGOs, universities, corporates and many more. Contact us today to ensure a safe and respectful workplace for women.