How Can Companies Ensure Women's Safety from Sexual Harassment While Working from Home?

Ensuring Safety for Women Employees Working from Home

With work from home being extended by many companies until the end of 2020, companies must also consider taking actions to ensure the safety of their women employees.

In doing so, companies could consider the following among other suggestions:

1. POSH Policy Adaptation

The POSH Policy of the company should clearly state that work from home would be classified as "workplace." Additionally, the definition of "sexual harassment" should include any verbal/non-verbal conduct by electronic means to avoid any ambiguity regarding the applicability of POSH.

2. Online Reporting Mechanism

Create an online reporting mechanism, such as a virtual mailbox or a dedicated email address, to receive and forward complaints to the ICC.

3. Virtual Awareness Programs

Hold awareness programs and ICC hearings virtually.

For a legal analysis and the applicability of the POSH Act in the work from home environment, as well as more practical suggestions for corporates, please read my detailed article here.

https://www.livelaw.in/columns/from-...act2013-160311

Since POSH is made mandatory by the Government of India, many companies are looking for information and a presentation of their own on POSH. Here is a link to get the free template for a POSH PowerPoint presentation that you can easily edit and prepare one for your organization:

[Link: Free POSH Presentation Slides](https://bharatgrouponline.com/free-posh-presentation-slides.php)