Intro: The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) addresses the different forms of harassment. Diversity Digest presents an overview of the Act. In Part 3, we delve deeper into the two common forms of harassment women face in the workplace.
Recap: Four friends—Rahim, Rohit, Seema, and Jasmine— meet for a reunion. As they get talking, they realize that one of them, Jasmine, is facing turmoil— one that could cost her her career. As Jasmine breaks down confessing that a colleague has been harassing her in the workplace, Seema educates her and the rest about the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act). Read on…
As Seema watched Rohit join the queue for hot gulab jamuns– her next instalment of treat– she was lost in an uncomfortable thought. If organizations don’t make POSH policy visible and mandatory, what happens to employees like Jasmine? What about many who may never have the courage to fight against this injustice?
Waiting for the piping hot gulab jamuns to cool a bit, Seema continued glancing at all three of them—Rahim, Rohit, and Jasmine. She said, “There are two common ways of eliciting sexual favors from women employees. These are quid pro quo and hostile work environment.”
“Quid pro quo,” repeated Rahim and Rohit in unison. Sounds Latin to me, added Rohit. It is, said Seema. “Now listen to me. This is the crucial part,” she said in a steely voice.
Seema explained, “As the word suggests, ‘quid pro quo’ is doing something in return. That means the woman has to agree to the advances made by someone in a position of power, to receive a promotion or an increase in salary or a bonus, and so on.”
Her friends were quiet in rapt attention, she continued.
“The other form is creating a work environment that is not congenial to continue working for a woman because she resisted the advances made. It is creating a hostile work environment. It could be dumping extra workload on her, making her come early in the morning and leave late in the evening, giving her extra target, ensuring no other colleague is pally with her, to name some.”
“My God.” Exclaimed Rohit, looking at Rahim, who had a similar expression. All three of them now looked at Jasmine. She was pained reliving those unpleasant moments she endured as her senior colleague decided to settle scores with her.
It took her a moment, but she came out from a morose mood and was preparing herself for what Seema was about to divulge.
“All right people,” said Seema seriously, “Now you need to know more details about the redressal and provisions under this act. Rohit, Rahim, you can also educate your mother, sisters, and other friends, about this law by spreading awareness around the same.”
To be continued…
