Fostering a culture of respect: A guide to preventing sexual harassment in the workplace

As organisations grow, the need to create an environment where employees feel safe, valued and recognised increases. Sexual harassment is a serious concern that still lingers in many workplaces. To address this, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide of do’s and don’ts to help organisations build a culture that prioritises respect, inclusivity, and professionalism. 

Do’s:

• Encourage professional behaviour: Encouraging awareness of consent, personal boundaries and maintaining professional behaviour in all settings ensures a workplace where individuals can feel secure and focus on their tasks without any fear of harassment.
• Ensure clear communication: Effective communication is the key. Advocating for clear and professional communication minimises the risk of misunderstandings and sets the standard for respectful workplace discourse.
• Encourage prompt reporting: Encouraging immediate reporting of potential harassment is vital. This proactive approach allows organisations to address issues swiftly, creating a culture that takes a stand against inappropriate behaviour. It is important for organisations to clearly communicate the existing reporting mechanisms to employees to ensure high levels of trust with the Internal Committee.
• Ensure policy adherence: Ensuring strict adherence to company policies on prevention of sexual harassment establishes a framework that leaves no room for ambiguity. Consistent adherence to policies reinforces a commitment to a safe and respectful workplace. Adherence to policies can be ensured by documenting these policies, applying these policies in everyday work practices, removing barriers to compliance and finally reinforcing these policies by frequent training programs.
• Seek consent: Seeking consent in the context of sexual harassment is crucial for creating a safe and respectful workplace. It involves obtaining explicit consent before engaging in any physical contact or initiating conversations of a personal nature. This proactive approach helps establish clear boundaries, promotes a culture of consent, and contributes to a harassment-free environment.
• Implement training programs: Ensuring all employees undergo prevention of sexual harassment training is a proactive measure that equips the workforce with the knowledge and tools to prevent and address harassment effectively. The internal committee and all the employees of the company should mandatorily undergo training on sexual harassment according to the Prevention of Sexual Harrasment Act 2013.

Don’ts:

• No inappropriate verbal communication: Discouraging any inappropriate comments, jokes, or sexual remarks is crucial for maintaining a workplace where individuals feel respected and can focus on their work without being made to feel uncomfortable.
• No unwanted advances: Unwanted advances refer to inappropriate actions or gestures that are not consensually welcomed by another person. Prohibiting unwanted advances is crucial for maintaining a workplace where individuals can feel secure and respected, free from any form of harassment or misconduct.
• No stereotyping: Advising against making assumptions or stereotyping based on gender, colour, race, age, religion, socio economic status, etc promotes a culture where individuals are recognized for their skills and contributions rather than any type of preconceived notions. 
• No retaliation: Retaliation is to hurt someone or do something harmful to someone because that person has done or said something hurtful to you. Organisations should strictly prohibit retaliation against those reporting harassment ensures a workplace where individuals can come forward without fear of reprisals, fostering an atmosphere of trust.
• No breach of privacy: Discouraging prying into colleagues’ personal lives and respecting their privacy is essential for creating a workplace where individuals feel their personal boundaries are honoured.

Fostering a culture of respect in the workplace goes beyond a checklist —it’s a commitment to creating an environment where every individual feels valued, heard, and free from harassment. By embracing these do’s and don’ts and following the various laws and regulations, organisations can build a foundation for a workplace culture that prioritises respect, inclusivity, and professionalism. Reach out to hello@serein.in to know more about how you can create safe and inclusive workplaces.