We undertook a capacity-building initiative with Brooke India, an organisation working in Animal Welfare and Community Development, to strengthen its Internal Complaints Committee's (ICC) understanding of and response to Sexual Harassment at the Workplace (SHW).
About:
Brooke India is an organisation dedicated to animal welfare and community development.
As part of its commitment to fostering a safe and compliant workplace, the organisation sought to strengthen the capabilities of its Internal Committee (IC) members, both current and potential, in handling matters related to sexual harassment at the workplace, in line with statutory requirements under the POSH Act, 2013.
The Goal:
The assignment aimed to strengthen ICC members' skills, knowledge, and preparedness to effectively carry out their roles and responsibilities under the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. This included building a clear understanding of the organisation's internal policy, the inquiry and conciliation processes, and the broader statutory framework governing workplace harassment.
Our Approach:
We held a dedicated workshop for ICC members, structured around the SHLC framework, and provided a comprehensive A-Z guide to POSH for Internal Committees. The session covered:
- A detailed revision of the organisational policy on sexual harassment
- Techniques to identify harassment and sexual harassment behaviours
- The IC's 12-step inquiry process
- Documentation and record-maintenance requirements for the IC
- Protocols to follow when an IC member steps down
- Principles of conciliation, confidentiality, and handling false complaints
- The scope of third-party sexual harassment and the IC's responsibilities in such cases
- Emerging concerns around sexual harassment via social media and the IC's role in addressing them
The training combined statutory guidance with practical, process-oriented learning to prepare both current and potential IC members for real-world scenarios.
The Impact:
The workshop strengthened ICC members' understanding of their roles and responsibilities, equipping them with practical clarity on policy application, inquiry procedures, and reporting requirements. Participants left with a deeper, more confident grasp of how to identify, address, and document instances of sexual harassment at the workplace — reinforcing the organisation's commitment to a safe and compliant workplace environment.
Want to make POSH training a part of your team culture? Contact Us.