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.
28th August 2026 | Issue No. 148
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars! In this section, we highlight an upcoming event you won't want to miss.
As an Internal Committee member, knowing the POSH Act is just the beginning. This practical, case-led workshop helps you understand your role, navigate complaints, assess evidence, and conduct fair, sensitive inquiries. Strengthen your knowledge, build confidence, and learn to handle POSH matters with greater clarity and effectiveness. Register now.
Understanding and Preventing Suicide Risk in Children
A session for parents, teachers, school counsellors, psychologists and social workers. Learn to recognize the signs of hidden emotional distress in children even when they appear fine on the outside and understand how to notice vulnerability before the obvious red flags emerge.
In the Spotlight!
Explore ways to build your knowledge and capacity with our team of in-house experts!
This month’s POSHequili, Mental Health at Work and Inclusion at Work monthly meeting brought IC members together to explore sexual harassment involving pregnant and nursing mothers. Sana Hakim and Rosanna Rodrigues discussed the intersection of the POSH and Maternity Benefit Acts, IC jurisdiction, sensitive complaint handling, and building safer, more inclusive workplaces.
As Friendship Month comes to a close, let’s look at our “work besties” through an inclusion lens. Workplace friendships can offer belonging and validation, especially when institutional support falls short. But inclusion shouldn’t depend on individual bonds. Explore how workplaces can strengthen systemic support and create safer, more equitable spaces for everyone.
Workplace wellbeing starts with creating spaces where people feel safe, supported and heard. Through Mental Health at Work, a vertical of Equilibrio Advisory LLP, discover practical ways to build healthier, more psychologically safe workplaces. Start your workplace wellbeing journey with us.
Speaking up about ragging takes courage. But what happens after a report matters too. This Anti-Ragging Week, let’s build systems that are accessible, responsive and supportive where students are heard, treated with dignity, and never blamed for seeking help.
Stay Current!
~ Spotlighting Landmark Judgments since passing of the Law!
I - LEGAL UPDATES
The Bombay High Court held that an ICC’s decision to reject a complaint on the ground that it did not contain an element of sexual harassment is appealable under Section 18 of the POSH Act, where the ICC has taken cognizance of and considered the complaint. The Court, however, set aside the Industrial Court’s decision on the merits and remanded the appeal for fresh adjudication, clarifying the scope of the statutory appellate remedy under the POSH framework.
The Bombay High Court held that an employer cannot constitute its own appellate authority for POSH proceedings contrary to the mechanism prescribed under Section 18 of the POSH Act and Rule 11 of the POSH Rules. Since the fresh inquiry and subsequent penalty were founded on an order passed by an unauthorised appellate authority, the Court quashed the penalty and emphasised that POSH proceedings must comply with statutory procedure and principles of fairness.
II - Exploring Intersections
Unconscious bias can quietly shape who we hire, hear, support and promote. Explore the different forms it can take from affinity and confirmation bias to gender, caste, disability and age bias and learn why recognizing these invisible filters is essential to building truly inclusive workplaces.
Engage with us!
Here's your weekly food for thought through a Fun Fact or Quiz.
Did you know that a growing number of women in China are staging an “escape from beauty duty” by actively rejecting rigid societal expectations of appearance? This movement reflects a powerful shift as women move away from the exhausting pressure to conform to standardized, idealized beauty norms, often involving heavy makeup or cosmetic procedures. Instead, many are embracing natural looks, prioritizing comfort, and reclaiming their agency over how they present themselves to the world.
This trend highlights a broader pushback against the “beauty tax” and the immense mental load placed on women to look a certain way to be considered professional or successful. By choosing authenticity over performative standards, these women are challenging systemic objectification and fostering a culture that values individual autonomy. Moving away from these stringent beauty standards, that minimize a woman’s personhood and holistic achievements is a step in the direction of equity.
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:
Why is the “Feral Girl” movement gaining traction as a counter-narrative to social media perfectionism?
Answer:
The “Feral Girl” aesthetic has emerged as a powerful reaction against the restrictive “Clean Girl” trend that demands hyper-productivity and constant curation. On the surface it looks like no-makeup looks, loose, baggy clothes, unkempt-looking women appearing on our social media feeds. However, by embracing an “unpolished” lifestyle, participants actively reject the exhausting pressure to maintain a performative image.
Instead of following rigid wellness routines or sacrificing personal comfort for aesthetics, this movement prioritizes autonomy and spontaneity. It encourages individuals to listen to their own needs rather than adhering to social media beauty standards.
Ultimately, this “feral” shift is an act of mental liberation, allowing people to reclaim their time and energy from the incessant cycles of self-improvement routines. By choosing authenticity over artificial perfection, the trend helps foster a sense of freedom, proving that true well-being is found in living life on your own terms rather than for an audience.
Here’s all the tools you need to build safe and equitable workspaces!
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