EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF THE POSH ACT ON WORKPLACE CULTURE: A CASE STUDY OF CORPORATE ORGANIZATIONS IN INDIA
AUTHOR – MS. BASANTI DEVI NEGI* & DR. RAZIA CHAUHAN**
RESEARCH SCHOLAR* & ASSISTANT PROFESSOR**, SCHOOL OF LAW, SHARDA UNIVERSITY.
BEST CITATION – MS. BASANTI DEVI NEGI & DR. RAZIA CHAUHAN, EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF THE POSH ACT ON WORKPLACE CULTURE: A CASE STUDY OF CORPORATE ORGANIZATIONS IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (3) OF 2025, PG. 39-44, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN THE COLLABORATED SPECIAL ISSUE OF M.K.E.S. COLLEGE OF LAW AND THE INSTITUTE OF LEGAL EDUCATION (ILE), TITLED “WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND LEGAL REFORMS” (ISBN: 978-81-968842-4-6). .
Abstract:
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), marked a major shift in India’s approach to preventing and addressing sexual harassment at work. It built on the foundation laid by the Vishakha Guidelines (1997), expanding upon the legal framework and introducing more concrete provisions. The POSH Act aims to offer women protection from all forms of sexual harassment in the workplace, creating a more structured and comprehensive system for prevention, prohibition, and redressal. A detailed analysis of the POSH Act’s effectiveness /impact requires exploring several critical factors. By examining the legislative journey from the Vishakha Guidelines to the enactment of the POSH Act and its subsequent enforcement, this study explores the evolution of legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms aimed at safeguarding employees’ rights and ensuring a conducive work environment. Drawing on empirical data, case studies, and stakeholder perspectives, the paper assesses the implementation, compliance, and enforcement of the POSH Act, highlighting both successes and challenges encountered in its execution. Furthermore, it examines the impact of the POSH Act on work culture of the organization, employee attitudes, and the prevalence of sexual harassment incidents.
Keywords: Sexual Harassment, Public Policy, Vishakha Guidelines, Organizational culture