40% of Women Employees unaware of POSH Act Finds Report

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 4 January 2024

A report by Walchand Plus reveals 40 per cent of working women in the workplace are unaware of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act's protective measures, highlighting the urgent need for a transformative approach.

According to the report, only 42 per cent of workers had a complete understanding of the POSH Act.

The research suggests that employees are not completely aware of the Act's provisions, and need better knowledge and guidance about the provisions of the Act.

The report also highlights that employees share common misconceptions in the organizations, where obeying the Act is frequently viewed as a checkbox rather than as a sincere effort to create a safe space for women.

The survey states that 53 per cent of HR professionals are unclear about the Act.

Pallavi Jha, the Managing Director and Chairperson of Walchand PeopleFirst mentions "As a woman, I believe that gender inequality in India still needs to be addressed in a big way. We still live in a patriarchal society in many respects. "Protecting women at work should be a basic expectation, but unfortunately, many organizations treat this at a very cosmetic level." her statement said.

The research highlights constraints like the lack of senior women representation in ICCs and the need for comprehensive training sessions to improve implementation and adherence to the POSH Act.

The report advocates for organizations to take immediate action to address identified gaps in harassment prevention, emphasizing the need for workshops, guidance, and a zero-tolerance policy.