In the past few years, Serein’s PoSH External Members have spent over 1,500 hours investigating cases of sexual harassment in the workplace. What we have seen is that while cases of workplace harassment can occur in different professional scenarios an individual is in, many of these cases also come up during informal work events.
Gatherings like house parties or offsites usually create a relaxed atmosphere with social activities. People tend to let their guard down and feel less bound by the formal expectations of the workplace.
But in these relaxed settings, professional boundaries can get blurred. People may not always be aware of the continued expectations of professional behaviour outside the typical workplace.
This lack of awareness can lead to inappropriate behaviours like making unwanted comments, gestures, or other forms of sexual harassment.
So let’s break down how to get ahead of the curve and prevent sexual harassment in the extended workplace.
Offsites and social events as the “workplace”
As per the definition of the workplace under the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 or the PoSH Act 2013, it includes any place visited by the employee during the course of employment.
The PoSH Act relies on the concept of an “extended workplace”. Given this broad understanding, even incidents of sexual harassment at an offsite come under the scope of sexual harassment in the workplace. The expectations of the PoSH Policy of a safe and inclusive workplace do not change when employees are at an offsite or a social event.
Social events can mean a team dinner or a company celebration, but they can also mean a gathering between co-workers outside the workplace. For example, if sexual harassment occurs between two employees at a party that they both attend in their capacity after work hours, it can still come under the PoSH Policy because the incident would still impact the workplace.
Lowering professional boundaries
When you’re not in your typical workplace, there is a tendency to lower professional boundaries or not adhere to them as strictly.
The point of team gatherings is to improve inter-team relations and some lowering of boundaries may be necessary. For example, at these events, it may be okay or normal to drink alcohol, take photos and discuss personal lives- things that are not normal or acceptable in the office.
However, like in all cases of sexual harassment, it cannot be at the cost of someone’s safety.
You can never be sure what someone’s boundary is, especially outside the workplace where all interactions have been so far.
Instead of assuming that everyone is comfortable, ask them.
Ask if it is okay to take a picture of them and post it on social media. Ask if they would like to drink alcohol and if they say no, respect it. Do not push them. Avoid personal questions or discussions.
It may also feel like it is okay to talk in a manner that is not acceptable in the office. This may be cracking sexual or explicit jokes or passing inappropriate comments about people’s appearances. Even outside the office, the expectation of professional boundaries remains and it is important to be mindful to not make anyone uncomfortable.
Alcohol and sexual harassment
There is a common assumption that alcohol is the cause of sexual harassment at offsites.
But let’s be clear about the role alcohol plays:
While it can play a role in making people act more freely, it is important to remember that alcohol isn’t a direct cause of bad behaviour. A lot of this also depends on the choices people make in a workplace setting.
Some proactive ways to navigate alcohol at offsites are to encourage moderation and remind everyone that even in social settings, it’s still a professional space.
What does setting up for a successful event look like?
When planning your next event, don’t forget to add PoSH to your checklist!
A lot of incidents of sexual harassment and the fallout from it can be prevented before they even happen. Violating boundaries and sexual harassment may also be a result of a lack of awareness or confusion regarding what is acceptable and what is not.
Don’t leave it up to one’s interpretation or chance. Preface any event or outing with clarity and information with effective awareness.
Here are a few ways to prepare for a successful event:
- Acknowledging the potential for sexual harassment in these settings helps us to better prepare and prevent such incidents from occurring
- Sharing IC information and refreshing the PoSH Policy before such events with all attendees sets the tone for the event
- Prevent sexual harassment by ensuring employees are aware through sessions, informational posters, and emails that set expectations of professional behaviour
- Involve leaders and managers in ensuring safety at offsites. They can play an important role in monitoring team dynamics and raising awareness about how to maintain safety.