Global POSH Consulting and Advisory Project

Our esteemed client is an India based multinational conglomerate engaged in diverse business which includes Fast Moving Consumer Products, agriculture and heavy engineering, chemicals etc. The company operates manufacturing facilities in India, Indonesia, the US, besides Latin America and Africa. With over 3000 employees on roll, the conglomerate hosts a diverse workforce and is one of the leading organisations in terms of diversity metrics.

Challenges:

Reports of sexual harassment and a lack of psychological safety.
Lack of awareness and training regarding Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) policies.
Lack of training in handling complaints and grievances by the ICC.
Fear of retaliation among employees reporting harassment.

Objectives of the Intervention

Establish a robust PoSH framework compliant with global standards and local regulations.
Increase awareness and understanding of PoSH and workplace safety across all levels of the organisation.
Create a supportive environment for reporting and addressing instances of sexual harassment.
Ensure consistent and fair handling of complaints.
Foster a culture of respect and safety.

Approach and Methodology

Initial Assessment:

Surveys and Interviews: Conduct anonymous surveys and confidential interviews, discussions with senior management and various stakeholders to understand the current state of PoSH awareness and issues.
Policy Review: Analyse existing PoSH policies and grievance mechanisms.
Cultural Audit: Perform an audit to assess the workplace culture and identify areas of improvement.

Strategy Development:

Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, HR, and legal teams, to develop a comprehensive PoSH strategy.
Policy Consulting: Draft/Update and enhance organisation’s PoSH policies that details out the intent, scope and its application to ensure clarity, compliance, and effectiveness.
Action Plan: Develop a detailed action plan outlining specific interventions, timelines, and responsible parties.

Customised POSH Initiatives

PoSH Workshops

Conduct interactive workshops on recognizing, preventing, and addressing sexual harassment. The workshops are conducted in Hindi, English, Gujarati, Punjabi, Assamese, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu and Marathi languages. The objectives of the workshops were to make the participants aware about key aspects of the POSH Act, share highlights of the organisation’s POSH policy and redressal mechanism, build awareness about gender sensitisation and build an inclusive workforce.

Workshop Activities at a glimpse:

Identity Circle Activity
Bias Identification Activity
Use of audio visual media reference to pop culture, news articles, real life examples.
Case studies
Role play activities
Question and Answer with the trainer

ICC Capacity Building Program

A 2 day in-person/virtual session aimed at training of IC members for knowledge and skill building.

Objectives-

To equip the ICC with legal and practical knowledge of POSH law and its application.
Understanding the complaint filing mechanism and redressal process.
Understanding the steps of investigating a POSH complaint.
Learning how to file proper documentation and drafting the final report.
Creating a safe space for POSH investigations and dealing with the process in a sensitive manner.

Methodology-

Highly interactive session with the use of caselets, judgements, pop-up quiz, audio-visual material and doubt clarification.
Material Provided – draft documents, list of important judgments and list of important steps and flow of documentation.

POSH “Train the Trainer” program

Exhaustive Train the Trainer Program for equipping team members with the skills to successfully deliver POSH awareness workshops at all levels.

Highlights

2 hour modules per week for 4 weeks- total 8 hours training time.
includes certification
Participants will be assessed on the basis of post program assignment and co-facilitation during in-person POSH awareness workshops by TOC’s trainers.

“First Responders” Training Program

Identify, train and sensitise People Managers who act as first responders while dealing with concerns related to POSH.
To bring in a uniformity in the process by institutionalising a Standard Operating Procedure for first responders.

External Member Empanelment

The Outcast Collective’s expert POSH consultant is empanelled as the external member who advises on all legal and POSH compliance related issues, conducts POSH inquiries, drafts Annual Compliance Report (ACR) and final inquiry reports and conducts internal meetings with ICC members.

Results and Impact

Short-term Outcomes:

Increased awareness and understanding of PoSH policies.
Improved reporting mechanisms and support structures.
Initial decrease in incidents of sexual harassment.

Long-term Outcomes:

A safer and more respectful workplace culture.
Higher employee morale and productivity.
Enhanced reputation as a responsible and inclusive employer.

Quantitative Metrics:

Number of reported incidents and resolution times.
Participation rates in PoSH training and workshops.
Employee survey results on perceptions of workplace safety and respect.

Qualitative Metrics:

Employee testimonials and feedback.
Case studies of successfully resolved complaints.
Observed changes in workplace behaviour and culture.

Conclusion

Through a comprehensive PoSH intervention, we partnered with our client to transform its workplace culture. By embedding PoSH principles into every aspect of the business, our client not only improved its work environment but also positioned itself as a leader in corporate responsibility and employee welfare. The success of this intervention highlights the importance and effectiveness of strategic PoSH efforts in fostering a safe and inclusive workplace.