What Does “Unwelcome” Actually Mean Under POSH? Intent vs. Impact
What does “unwelcome conduct” actually mean under POSH? Why intent doesn’t matter, impact does, and what past consent doesn’t protect.
India’s top 30 companies recorded a 6.2% increase in POSH complaints in FY25, reflecting greater employee confidence in reporting workplace harassment and a stronger culture of compliance.
The National Commission for Women highlighted serious lapses in workplace safety and POSH compliance following the murder of a BPO employee in Pune, urging stronger internal system checks.
Organisations must recognise that merely constituting an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is not sufficient. True compliance with the POSH Act requires rigorous inquiry procedures that are fair, transparent, and timely.
What does “unwelcome conduct” actually mean under POSH? Why intent doesn’t matter, impact does, and what past consent doesn’t protect.
POSH for multinational companies in India can’t rely on a global HR policy alone — what GCCs and foreign subsidiaries actually need locally.
Can you file an anonymous POSH complaint? A guide to what Section 9 actually requires, and a separate right to protect your identity during the process.
Mental health support during a POSH inquiry isn’t legally mandatory, but trauma-informed committees handle it far better. Here’s what that looks like.
Does POSH apply at the office party, on a work trip, or at a client’s site? A guide to the extended workplace doctrine and where courts have drawn the line.
A guide to POSH disciplinary action after a guilty finding — the real range of penalties, the proportionality principle, and where employers go wrong.
A realistic POSH compliance timeline — what each phase actually takes, why “7-day compliance” claims are misleading, and what to expect.
POSH compliance cost in India varies widely — what actually drives the price, a realistic starting range, and why non-compliance costs more.
A buyer’s guide to choosing a POSH compliance partner in India — the criteria that matter, red flags to avoid, and questions to ask before signing.
POSH for domestic workers is legally guaranteed — but real reporting shows the Local Committee system is barely reaching the women it exists to protect.