By hosting POSH and financial literacy sessions, organizations can reinforce their culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion and show their women employees
New Delhi: Sexual harassment and bullying are a common threat faced by women in our society – a painful truth despite the innumerable attempts at progressiveness through education, laws, and other social initiatives. One of the areas causing the greatest concern is the fact that workplaces serve as a key backdrop for such harassment to take place.
Studies peg the number of Indian women facing such harassment at their workplaces between 30% to 50%. While a lot of this harassment is verbal, some of it is physical in nature. Regardless, it is extremely damaging; women suffering sexual harassment at the workplace find the process of redressal complex and lacks: swift, equitable, open, transparent, honest, and most importantly, fair and compassionate process.
Be.artsy, a social enterprise recognised for its expertise in leading impactful and jargon free awareness programs for Indian corporates, is aiming to draw attention to this problem endemic to Indian workplaces. It has chosen the two-week duration from November 25 to December 9 to run a promotional event targeting corporates.
Says Be.artsy Founder Shikha Mittal, explaining the basis for launching the event, “She’s Safe will be on from November 25, observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, till December 9, marking nine long years to the day when The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, came into force. The initiative will remind both women and men about their respective roles in helping to create workplaces that are safe, diverse, and equitable.”
By hosting POSH and financial literacy sessions, organizations can reinforce their culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion and show their women employees that they are serious about walking the talk and mitigate the risk of unhealthy conflict. “During these two weeks, Be.artsy will conduct awareness sessions for corporates at subsidised rates,” adds Shikha.
Women’s Day and Women’s Week has become an opportunity for companies to sell pink products, forgetting the issue of harassment in the world of work has a distinct impact on victims mental health. Financial security being one of the top reason why women stay silent in their suffering. Women are key contributors to their families’ financial security and growth today and we owe it to them to create safe workplaces that do not exploit them.
Underscoring the link between financial status and susceptibility to facing harassment at workplace, Be.artsy regularly conduct expertly-crafted programs on Prevention of Sexual Harassment called ‘IT’S NOT OK’ and financial literacy for women called ‘Be Your Own Lakshmi (BYOL)’.
Be.artsy has conducted 115 sessions of ‘IT’S NOT OK’ and 2000+ financial literacy sessions across the country till date, benefiting half a million people. Awareness sessions are delivered in nine languages across India and corporates can host sessions for women and men both during “She’s Safe – 2 week online event”.
To register and book slots for awareness session on personal finance and safety at work companies/NGOs/enterprises/UN agencies/government bodies can write to parth@be-artsy.com
