The POSH Act primarily protects women from sexual harassment at the workplace in India. At Silver Oak Health, we are committed to extending this principle to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, regardless of gender.
Are there different types of sexual harassment recognised under POSH?
While the POSH Act provides a broad definition, we can understand different forms of sexual harassment, including: Physical Harassment: Unwelcome touching, patting, pinching, or any other physical contact.
Verbal Harassment: Sexually suggestive jokes, comments, or insults.
Non-Verbal Harassment: Displaying offensive pictures or messages, leering, or making suggestive gestures. This could include sharing inappropriate images in staff communication or making suggestive eye contact.
Quid Pro Quo Harassment: Explicit or implicit promises of preferential treatment or threats of detrimental treatment in exchange for sexual favours.
Hostile Work Environment Harassment: Conduct that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile work environment. This could involve persistent unwelcome sexual jokes or comments that make it uncomfortable for an employee to work.
What are the key objectives of the POSH Act beyond just addressing complaints?
Beyond addressing complaints, the key objectives of the POSH Act include:
Prevention: Creating a workplace culture that actively discourages and prevents sexual harassment through awareness programs and policy implementation.
Prohibition: Clearly define and prohibit any form of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Redressal: Providing a fair and accessible mechanism for employees to report and seek resolution for incidents of sexual harassment.
Creating a Safe and Enabling Environment: Fostering a workplace where all employees, especially women, feel safe, respected, and empowered to work without fear of harassment.
What kind of support and protection is available to employees who file a POSH complaint with the ICC?
Silver Oak Health and the ICC are committed to providing support and protection to an employee who files a POSH complaint, including:
Confidentiality: Maintaining the confidentiality of the complainant's identity and the details of the complaint to the extent possible.
Protection against retaliation: Ensuring that the complainant is not subjected to retaliation for filing the complaint.
Emotional support: Providing access to counselling or support services if needed.
Interim relief: In certain cases, the ICC may recommend interim relief measures, such as transferring the alleged harasser or granting the complainant leave.
What types of programs are available in the POSH e-Learning Module?
POSH E-Learning module has two courses available.
Employee Module – The Employee Module of our e-learning course focuses on creating and raising awareness in employees about POSH policies and maintaining a safe workplace.
This eLearning Module has interactive content, visuals and use cases.
Manager Module - The Manager Module of our e-learning course is a learner-centric approach, which covers the nuances involved in listening to two sides of the same story. It trains the Manager to be non-judgmental and handle complaints effectively and fairly. The module has real-life scenarios, use cases, and customized learning material. The module brings out the best in the Managers pertaining to POSH issues and complaints.
What is the duration of these modules?
The Employee module is for approximately. 60 minutes, and the Manager module is for approx. 45 minutes.
What are the salient features of the module?
Modularly-Designed having individual modules for Employees and Managers
Self-paced, Interactive and engaging content with voice-over
Gender-Neutral module
Several Activities and Scenarios to test the learner’s knowledge at regular intervals to ensure constant learning
Helps the learner understand in brief the process followed during the inquiry
Gives the learner exposure to other authorities under the law
Several examples and scenarios to help the learner understand and relate
Features enabled to ensure complete learnability - The screen pauses when the user switches tabs and requires the user's intervention to navigate from one chapter to another
Built to launch at a large scale/built-in Dashboard for Analytics
What are the advantages of the e-learning module?
Mobility
Better retention
Consistent content
Users can use it multiple times
Quick learning
Cost-effective and saves time
Effective learning
Creative learning
24/7 Access
Self-paced & Focused learning
Self-discipline
Who can benefit from the e-Learning module?
Anyone who wants a basic understanding of POSH can make use of the modules. The modules are useful for employees of any company (IT/BT), the Manufacturing industry, the hospitality industry, health care, sport or vocational course institutes, the unorganised sector, government departments, educational institutions, etc.
Are E-Learning modules available in regional languages?
Currently, they are only available in English, our goal is to build them in regional languages.
Can we customise the E-Learning modules?
The module does not need to be customized. The reason being, the module is created to suit any age, it is gender-neutral, interactive and engaging. While there is no assessment built into the course, we have plenty of knowledge checks to reinforce learning. It helps the learner get a complete understanding of the basic concepts of POSH.
Do the users receive a certificate?
Yes, at the end of the course, the learner will get a course completion certificate, which can be downloaded by the user from the home menu.
Do I get any handouts at the end of the module?
This is one of the unique features of the e- Learning module, at the end of the course, along with the completion certificate, every learner can download the handout, which can be used for any references in the future.
What are the topics covered?
The employee awareness module covers what is sexual harassment, who is an aggrieved person, what is a workplace, who is a complainant and Respondent, types of sexual harassment, what is not sexual harassment, Recourses available, what is an Internal Committee, how and when to file a Complaints, what is Process and Procedures followed by Internal Committee, what are the Reliefs available, Myths and Facts and key points to remember.
If I do not clear the test, should I have to take the course again?
NO, this module does not have any test or evaluation at the end. The purpose of the course is to help everyone understand the concept and be safe & help in creating safe workplace, not to create pressure of test or exam, etc. We believe that learning, if made fun, can help the learner retain information and knowledge for a long time.
What is POSH?
POSH- simply means Prevention of Sexual Harassment. POSH is a popular name for an enactment of a legislation called Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. This act has given a framework for organization and made organization to be made liable to ensure a safe workplace.
Why is it important to do awareness sessions among employees and Managers?
Awareness sessions are very important, mainly for two reasons.
a. Build a healthy, safe, progressive, productive, respectful workplace.
b. Compliance
What is Internal Committee (IC)
Internal Committee is a special committee constituted in any organization that has 10 or more employees. This committee is responsible for creating a safe workplace and handling all issues related to Sexual Harassment.
Who can be part of the IC?
Any Internal Committee will have at least Four (4) members at any time. The head of the IC is called as Chairperson or Presiding officer, two (2) members who are working for the cause of women, or who have had experience in social work or have legal knowledge. And One (1) member (who is called as External committee or independent committee) from among NGO or associations committed to the cause of women person who is familiar with issues with women or a lawyer who is working for cause of women.
What is the role of External Committee member?
External Committee member is an independent member of the IC. The role of ECM is very crucial. ECM a one who facilitates the IC in achieving a safe workplace by implementing preventive, prohibitory & Redressal mechanism. Should be able to help organization formulate Policy, amend the Policy if needed, conduct awareness sessions, train the internal committee members, build their capacity, facilitate IC in holding inquiries, help IC maintain documentation, make sure of compliance, be gender-sensitive, hold periodic meetings, assist IC in maintain proceedings of meetings, advice when sought for, know Principles of Natural justice (PNJ), shield IC and parties from employer’s influence, know the process of evolution and evaluation of proofs and evidences, able to work out legal framework in making POSH protocols effective implemented.
How to set up the e-Learning for my employees?
You can create a link for the training from the dashboard, alternatively, you can also ask your Account Manager at Silver Oak Health to help you with the same.
Can I see the status of how many employees have completed the course?
You will be able to see this data in real time in your organization dashboard.
Can I send reminders?
You can send the reminders internally to your organization using your internal communications channels.
How will an employee register for the E-Learning?
Once an employee clicks on the training link, they can self-register using their official email address.
How should I register it if I don’t have the official email address?
You can register using the combination of your Corporate Code and personal email address.
I have not received the OTP, what should I do now?
You can check with your IT team if they are not blocking email originating from outside of your company. You can also ask them to whitelist our email sender domain @silveroakhealth.com and for additional help, you can reach out to help@silveroakhealth.com
How should I check if I have completed the training?
Once you complete the training, you can see the status of the training to be marked as “Completed” in the dashboard.
I am facing some technical issues, what should I do?
