SEXUAL HARASSEMENT AT WORKPLACE

Sexual harassment is defined under Section 2(n) of the act. Sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwanted behaviors. Simple, it means that by verbal, writing or by any other gesture that makes you feel uncomfortable made by another person and you want to stop the act.

Verbal or written

1. Passing comments on someone body, personality, clothes or relationship.
2. Sending or making a sexual and double meaning joke.
3. Asking for the favor of a sexual act.
4. Making rumors about the personal and sexual life of an individual

Physical

• Blocking someone path.
• Touching someone in an inappropriate manner.
• Assaulting.
• Forcefully hugging, kissing and massaging.

NON-VERBAL

1. Stalking an individual.
2. Staring with a wrong intention at someone body.
3. Making weird facial expression of sexual essence.

Visual

• Showing pornography.
• Sharing double meaning jokes, pictures, emails or drawings.

Objectives

• Safeguard the women at the workplace against sexual harassment.
• Prevention
• Redressal of complaints related to sexual harassment
• This act was first passed by the Ministry of Law and Justice on 22nd April 2013. Further, the provision of the act come into force on 9th December 2013.

Elements of Workplace Sexual Harassment

A female employee at the workplace may face a single or a chain of incidents relating to harassment, which will disturb her mental health and make it uncomfortable for her to live. So, these kinds of activities should be examined on a serious note and with a proper process.

Decent Behavior

• Feels good
• Feel Powerful
• Legal
• Reciprocal
• Happy
• Positive Self- Esteem

Indecent Behavior

• Feels bad
• Feel Powerless
• Illegal
• One- sided
• Sad/ Anger
• Negative Self- Esteem

Process of filing a complaint

• Step 1- Receive and Acknowledge the complaint.
• Step 2- Converse with the complainant to settle the dispute in a formal or informal way.
• Step 3- Informal Method
• Step 4- Formal Method
• Step 5- Response of Respondent.
• Step 6- Preparing of File
• Step 7- Taking into consideration
• Step 8- Framing a schedule for hearing both sides.
• Step 9- Compiling all the relevant information
• Step 10- Reasoning
• Step 11- Suggestions and Recommendations
• Step 12- Preparing a written Report.

Conclusion

Workplace harassment is a serious concern which requires immediate attention for better outcome. Although majority of the participants experience at least some form of harassment, they hesitate to objectively indicate the same due to fear of consequences of losing of job and facing further ramifications.