PoSH awareness programme for employees

Why organisations hold awareness programmes

Under Section 19 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (official text, India Code), every employer must organise workshops and awareness programmes at regular intervals to sensitise employees to the Act, and orientation programmes for the members of the Internal Committee. The Internal Committee's annual report must state the number of workshops or awareness programmes carried out in the year.

Bringing every employee to one room is hard for organisations with shifts, branches or staff in several cities. An online programme lets each employee complete it in their own time, and keeps a record of who has done so.

How it works

1. The organisation writes to the office

   The number of employees, the period for completion and the terms are agreed directly with the office.

2. It shares the list of participants

   Names and email addresses, in a spreadsheet or an email. It can also name a coordinator, usually from HR, to follow progress.

3. Each employee gets a personal login

   An email explains how to begin. Login is by a one-time code sent to the employee's own email, with no password to remember. Only registered participants can open the sessions.

4. Employees watch at their own pace

   On a phone, tablet or computer, at work or at home. Progress is saved, so a session can be finished later. Each session must be watched in full: it cannot be skipped ahead or speeded up.

5. A certificate on completion

   When every session is complete, the employee downloads a certificate of completion from CSIA Law Associates, with a certificate number and a code that anyone can check on this website.

6. A record for the organisation

   The coordinator sees who has completed, who is in progress and who has not started, and can download the list and all the certificates for the organisation's records.

What the sessions cover

• What sexual harassment at the workplace means under the Act, with everyday examples
• Who can complain, and what counts as a workplace, including places visited for work and transport provided by the employer
• The Internal Committee and the Local Committee, and how a complaint is made
• Time limits, conciliation, the inquiry and its outcome
• Confidentiality, and the duties of employers, managers and colleagues

Good to know

• The sessions are prepared by the firm's advocates, who are certified PoSH trainers.
• The programme can be combined with in-person sessions, Internal Committee training and a compliance review. See PoSH training and compliance.
• Participants' details are used only to run the programme and issue certificates. See the privacy policy.