30th January 2026 | Issue No. 118

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The Equilibrio Gazette

A brief buletin for building safe workspaces!

This weekly newsletter is your gateway to staying current on relevant laws (like POSH, POCSO, Transgender Persons Act, etc.) and the psychosocial intersections that impact the workplace.

30th January 2026 | Issue No. 118

Illustration highlighting October as Mental Health Awareness Month in the workplace, featuring calming elements like plants and symbols of well-being, promoting stress management and emotional support among employees.

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars! In this section, we highlight an upcoming event you won't want to miss.

She box Registration And Annual Report Filing 1st Dec 2025
Learn how to meet your POSH Act, 2013 compliance requirements with ease. This session explains what, when, and how to file your annual report accurately with the District Officer. It also covers She-Box—the government’s online platform for POSH submissions—ensuring timely, complete, and hassle-free reporting for your organization.
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In the Spotlight!

Explore ways to build your knowledge and capacity with our team of in-house experts!

This month’s POSHequili IC meeting fostered nuanced conversations on consent and professional boundaries—from intent vs impact to digital conduct and consensual relationships. The session reaffirmed ICs’ vital role beyond redressal, in shaping respectful, inclusive workplace cultures. We thank all IC members for their thoughtful engagement and commitment to safer workplaces.
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Monthly Meeting for IC Members Highlights 30th Jan 2026
Child safety is often spoken about as responsibility 30th Jan 2026
Child safety is a shared responsibility. Every adult and institution connected to a child plays a role in prevention and response. Safety begins before crisis—through recognising warning signs, holding boundaries, documenting concerns, and following clear, trauma-informed protocols. Shared accountability creates shared readiness, ensuring children don’t fall through the gaps.
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January Therapist Tip 💛 January isn’t about fixing yourself—it’s about supporting yourself. If you need a safe space to talk, process, or simply breathe, therapy can help. You are not alone, and we’re here for you.
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January Therapist Tip 30th Jan 2026
GlimmeroftheWeek shines on Mattels first Autistic Barbie 30th Jan 2026
This week’s Glimmer of the Week highlights Mattel’s first Autistic Barbie, created with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Featuring sensory-friendly design and authentic autistic traits, it challenges stereotypes and boosts representation—especially for girls, who are often underdiagnosed—promoting acceptance and empowerment for neurodivergent children.
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Stay Current!

~ Spotlighting Landmark Judgments since passing of the Law!

I - LEGAL UPDATES

Poshequilli
Kerala High Court Clarifies Applicability Of POSH Act To Bar Associations
The Kerala High Court held that Bar Associations are not “employers” under the POSH Act, 2013, and therefore cannot constitute an Internal Complaints Committee, as there is no employer–employee relationship with their members.
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Inclusion at Work Logo White BG
The Supreme Court has stayed the UGC Equity Regulations, 2026, noting that certain provisions, particularly around caste-based discrimination, are vague and may have unintended consequences. Until further orders, the 2012 UGC regulations will continue to apply, with the Court seeking responses from the Centre and the UGC.
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Supreme Court Stays UGC Equity Regulations 2026 Over Concerns Of Vagueness And Societal Division

II - Exploring Intersections

Getting Queerious with POSH 30th Jan 2026
Next month is LGBTQ History Month—look forward to celebrating diversity, learning queer histories, and embracing inclusion with POSHequili! Join us as we explore queer identities, challenge stereotypes, and build workplaces where all gender expressions are seen, respected, and valued. Let’s get queerious and compassionate together!
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Codependency isn’t limited to personal relationships—it can show up at work too. Over-taking responsibility, people-pleasing, or avoiding boundaries can lead to burnout and resentment. Recognising these patterns is the first step toward healthier boundaries, mutual respect, psychological safety, and more balanced, sustainable teamwork.
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Codependency is a pattern where one person overly relies on another 30th Jan 2026

Engage with us!

Here's your weekly food for thought through a Fun Fact or Quiz.

Did you know that the viral “nihilistic penguin” meme is actually a clip from Werner Herzog’s 2007 documentary “Encounters at the End of the World”? The footage shows a solitary Adélie penguin rejecting its colony’s breeding grounds and heading alone toward the icy mountains—likely to its death.

In early 2026, this poignant scene gained popularity on TikTok and sparked a sub-trend in corporate spaces, where employees began using the meme in context of their workspaces. It symbolizes employee distress and highlights the urgent need for inclusive, psychologically safe workplaces.

This unexpected connection between nature and work culture invites us to reflect on how we support mental well-being at work.

If you are looking to center mental wellbeing at the workplace, you can reach out to us for our EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) offerings, at connect@equilibrioadvisory.org

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Have a burning question about POSH? Maybe Mental Health at Work, Child safety or DEI&B strategies? Drop us an email with your query and we would love to answer it, in all seriousness.

Curious Cat:
What are trauma bonds, can they affect a person’s life, and what support systems can help?
 
Answer:
Trauma bonds are intense emotional attachments formed between a victim and their abuser or in dysfunctional relationships. They are often rooted in cycles of abuse, fear, and intermittent kindness. Originating from traumatic experiences, these bonds create a powerful, confusing mix of loyalty and pain.
 
In interpersonal dynamics—including workplaces—trauma bonds can manifest as unhealthy attachments to toxic colleagues, managers, or environments, where individuals feel trapped despite emotional harm. This pattern takes a heavy psychological and emotional toll, leading to chronic stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulty setting boundaries.
 
Supportive practices to break trauma bonds include building awareness through therapy or counseling, cultivating strong, trustworthy support networks, practicing self-compassion, and establishing clear boundaries. Creating psychologically safe spaces at work and fostering open, non-judgmental communication can also help individuals heal and regain autonomy.
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Here’s all the tools you need to build safe and equitable workspaces! Drop us a Hey, to get started!
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