Complaint & Background: The complainant accused the respondent of persistent sexual harassment over months, trying to pressurise her into a relationship despite her objections. The complainant alleged that respondent would contact her through her friends and ask them to help fix a relationship between both parties. Eventually, when it got too much, she reported. She was scared that respondent may impact her job due to his position at the workplace.
Response: The respondent refuted the allegations, asserting that he financially supported the complainant for her medical treatment and provided emotional support as a father figure, with no ulterior motives. He maintained that he ceased casual communication upon learning of workplace gossip, thereafter, contacting her only for repayment through friends, which resulted in being blocked or ignored and culminated in a false sexual harassment accusation.
Evidence: There was clear evidence of chat messages screenshots sent to the complainant by the respondent. There was also a witness who corroborated the complainant’s narrative.
Challenges faced by the Internal Committee
- Retaliation by respondent: During cross-examination, the respondent contacted the complainant’s parents, revealing the complaint and pressuring them to retract it. The parents were unaware, causing great distress to the complainant and her family.
- Language and mode of communication barriers with the parties: It was brought to the IC’s notice that parties preferred the inquiry in their local language and email communication was not possible either.
Curious about the answers to the above? Join Us for our one-day Capacity Building Program for Internal Committee Members on the Law against Sexual Harassment at Workplace
To address these questions and challenges comprehensively, we invite all Internal Committee Members to join the one-day Capacity Building Workshop on the Law Against Sexual Harassment at the Workplace. This workshop will provide in-depth knowledge and practical tools to understand, prevent, and address sexual harassment complaints, ensuring a safer and more respectful work environment for everyone.
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Event Details: 21 March 2025 | 10 AM to 5 PM | MS Teams
Registration Link: https://poshatwork.com/product/full-day-ic-training/