A toolbox to protect the women in your organization, and to learn your rights

A toolbox to protect the women in your organization, and to learn your rights and duties as an employee

Those of you, who run businesses, organisations, schools, colleges etc where there are more than 10 employees, pay close attention. India has passed a new anti-sexual harassment law in 2013, which you need to comply to or face serious consequences. I am here to help you with that.

 According to International Labour Organization, more than 90% of Indian businesses are not in a position to effectively implement the new sexual harassment law passed in 2013. Most employers, despite having the goodwill to prevent sexual harassment at workplace and implementing the law, do not know how to actually implement the law. There are others who do not want to implement it because of the time and cost involved. At the same time, there are serious consequences of not complying, including a fine of INR 50,000.

 What if implementing the law is made absurdly easy? What if there was a toolkit which can be used to become 100% compliant organization within one day? What if there was a toolbox which you could simply open and start implementing the measures mandated by law?

 At iPleaders, we created just that. Here’s a toolbox that can be accessed with a username and password, from the web as well as an android app.

This is a toolbox that can help you to implement the entire Anti-Sexual harassment law effortlessly, within 12 hours. The toolbox can be used by a HR manager or Company Secretary or any other person who would be given the responsibility. There is also a free version for all employees. Check out https://endsexualharassment.ipleaders.in

 Employer’s Toolbox to End Sexual Harassment

This is a step by step guide to implement the anti-sexual harassment law for Indian businesses. This tool will enable an organization to do the following:

1. Set up an internal complaints committee to deal with sexual harassment complaints
2. Create an effective policy against sexual harassment within the organization and make it a part of general employment policy and employment agreements
3. Procedures to be followed in case of an unreported misconduct
4. Notices to be displayed at workplace (samples and standard formats included)
5. Comply with mandatory periodic sensitization requirements (organize workshops and seminars with training content provided by iPleaders)
6. Train the members of your internal complaints committee on how to handle sexual harassment complaints, hearings and decision, how to evaluate evidence submitted by victim and accused and what kind of remedies can they award
7. Understand when to file and FIR or assist a victim to file an FIR
8. Provide interim relief to women victims of sexual harassment
9. Comply to legal requirements by submitting annual reports on implementation of the law
10. How to deal with false and malicious complaints of sexual harassment
11. Take D&O insurances to protect officers or directors against sexual harassment
12. We will keep it updated with the latest legal developments that you need to know

As a part of this toolbox, an organization will get access to the tutorials on how to implement the law, and all the sample documents and formats that will be needed in the course of implementation and execution. A large number of scenarios are also covered with specific guidelines on how to handle them if they arise. There would also be a number of planned activities which can be used by HR professionals to sensitize the organization and its members.

Please note: Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to an immediate fine of INR 50,000 and double the amount for repeated/ continued non-compliance. The government is also authorized to cancel the business licenses in case of repeated offences.

What does the toolbox consist of?

1. Tutorials – video and text based on how to implement the law
2. Step by step process documents and checklists
3. Sample notices, orders, complaints, annual reports
4. Confidentiality policy
5. D&O insurance related advice
6. Sensitization package – training material, case studies, activities and role plays for legally mandated sensitization workshop for employees
7. Tutorials on how to conduct procedures by Internal Complaints Committee and how to evaluate evidence submitted by the accused and the victim
8. Case studies

What is the cost?

It is completely free for all employees. The employees have their own version where they can learn about their duties and rights, as well as what the employer is expected to do. They can also report violations of the law – so that we can approach the business owners and request them to implement the law.

For Employers’ Toolbox, INR 5000 per license per annum is the price we have decided to start with. One license will be enough for most organizations (unless you have many branches or offices all over India).

Employees knowledge toolkit to know their rights and Duties

Employees will get free access to a special version of toolbox made for them. Anyone can come and register on the platform and learn for free their rights as an employee under the new sexual harassment law. Individuals can also report any violation or non-compliance of the law absolutely anonymously. This will enable us to approach the respective organization with a proposal to adopt the toolkit. More about this can be read here.

Please help us to make this movement to End Sexual Harassment successful by sharing it with the decision makers you know! Any advice from the Rodinhooders also welcome.

(To find out more about iPleaders, visit the website here: https://ipleaders.in. For more details regarding the Employer’s or Employees toolkit, please email esh@ipleaders.in or call +91 8377972123.)