Enhanced Awareness Cited as Key Factor in Rising POSH Case Numbers
BENGALURU (India CSR): Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, reported a significant increase in sexual harassment complaints filed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH). The company recorded 110 complaints in FY 2023-24, compared to 49 in the previous fiscal year.
According to the report, this surge in complaints is primarily attributed to increased awareness about the issue within the company. Additionally, the proportion of complaints that were upheld has also risen, which further emphasizes the robustness and effectiveness of TCS’s POSH framework. This data underscores TCS’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful work environment, while also highlighting the company’s efforts to encourage transparency and responsiveness to such serious concerns.
“TCS internally monitors compliance with all relevant laws and policies pertaining to these issues at 100% of its offices. There have been no observations by local statutory / third parties in India in FY 2023-24.”, the report added.
Analysis of POSH Complaints at TCS
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the total number of POSH complaints globally was 110, more than double the previous year’s total of 49, which only included India operations.
The percentage of complaints relative to the number of female employees increased slightly from 0.03% to 0.05%. This uptick, although modest, suggests that more employees are coming forward to report incidents, possibly due to a safer reporting environment or better awareness of their rights.
Moreover, the number of complaints that were upheld also increased, from 34 in FY 2022-23 to 66 in FY 2023-24, reinforcing the effectiveness of the POSH framework in addressing and validating genuine concerns. This indicates not only an increase in reporting but also an effective process for handling these complaints at TCS.
Rising Awareness: TCS attributes the increase in reported cases to heightened awareness among employees about their rights and the company’s reporting mechanisms.
Global Reach: The FY 2023-24 figures reflect complaints from TCS employees globally, while the previous year’s data focused solely on India operations. This expanded scope likely contributes to the higher number of reported complaints.
Zero Tolerance Policy: TCS reiterates its unwavering commitment to a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. The company assures that all concerns are addressed confidentially and emphasizes that retaliatory actions against complainants will face severe disciplinary measures.
Transparency and Action: The report highlights that 66 complaints were upheld in FY 2023-24, indicating a thorough investigation process. This demonstrable action against confirmed cases further underscores the company’s seriousness in tackling the issue.
TCS Human Rights Training Coverage Analysis
The training data on human rights issues and policies at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) highlights a robust commitment to educating its workforce on these critical areas. In fiscal year 2023-24, a total of 631,858 employees, including both permanent and non-permanent staff, received human rights training. Of these, 613,242 employees successfully completed the training, accounting for 97.1% of the total workforce trained.
This represents a slight decrease from the previous fiscal year 2022-23, where 522,195 out of 526,254 employees, or 99.2%, completed the training, though the data for that year only covered India operations excluding non-wholly owned subsidiaries.
The decrease in the percentage of trained employees, particularly among permanent staff (from 99.2% in FY 2022-23 to 97.9% in FY 2023-24), could suggest challenges in maintaining training engagement or variations in training needs and implementation across a broader geographical scope. Despite these variations, the high percentage of trained employees underscores TCS’s ongoing dedication to human rights education within its corporate structure.
Below is a detailed table representing the training coverage:
| Total (A) | No. of employees/ workers covered (B) | % (B / A) | Total (C) | No. of employees/ workers covered (D) | % (D / C) | |
| Permanent | 601,546 | 588,699 | 97.9% | 523,842 | 519,799 | 99.2% |
| Other than permanent | 30,312 | 24,543 | 81.0% | 2,412 | 2,396 | 99.3% |
| Total Employees | 631,858 | 613,242 | 97.1% | 526,254 | 522,195 | 99.2% |
(India CSR)
