The Equilibrio Gazette
A brief bulletin 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.
19th July 2024 | Issue No. 39
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars! In this section, we highlight an upcoming event you won't want to miss.
Our seasoned facilitators are excited
to offer a foundational workshop on
building sustainable, inclusive, and
equitable workplaces. On July 25,
2024, from 5 to 7 pm, you’ll learn the
DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion,
Belonging) blueprint and gain
intersectional understanding to
enhance workplace diversity and
accessibility. Facilitators Samriti
Makkar Midha and Rosanna
Rodrigues, both queer affirmative
mental health professionals, will
share their expertise in creating
inclusive workplaces through their
diverse backgrounds in
psychotherapy and social work.
Don’t lose track of our upcoming
formal certification programme in
building DEIB expertise!
This program will give you access to
a great panel of facilitators in
addition to access to guest speakers
with rich experience, spotlighting
their lived realities!
In the Spotlight!
Explore ways to build your knowledge and capacity with our team of in-house experts!
The POSH Law ensures workplace
safety with clear employee rights,
including a safe environment, an
Internal Committee for complaints,
confidentiality of involved parties, a
90-day inquiry period, and interim
protections against retaliation for the
complainant.
Society is learning about trans rights,
making strides like NALSAR’s 2015
recognition of Mx. on a graduation
certificate and the Union Finance
Ministry’s recent approval of M
Anukathir Surya’s name and gender
change. These actions foster
inclusion and address workplace
discrimination against trans
individuals.
Children are the most vulnerable in
conflict situations, experiencing
severe impact. Recent images of
war’s devastation highlight rising
numbers of affected children,
representing lost futures and grieving
families. In conflict zones, their lives
are marred by violence, loss, and
trauma, impacting their mental health
and development. We must
champion peace, support
humanitarian efforts, and advocate
for their protection and well-being.
We celebrated International Drag
Day on July 16th, honoring drag
culture, a performance art where
individuals dress as the opposite
gender. With ancient roots, drag
flourished in theater and queer
liberation. Despite its diversity, drag
performers, especially people of
color and transmasculine artists,
often face discrimination and
harassment.
Stay Current!
~ Spotlighting Landmark Judgments since passing of the Law!
I - LEGAL UPDATES
The Orissa High Court decided that
the “no work, no pay” rule does not
apply when the employer is at fault.
The petitioner, terminated in 1995
and reinstated in 1996, sought back
wages and regularization. The court
ordered her service period to be
regularized and full benefits to be
provided.
The Meghalaya High Court upheld
the dismissal of an Assam Rifles
Rifleman, citing significant risks
associated with reinstating an
employee with potential mental
health issues. The court emphasized
that reemploying someone with
suspected mental instability could
pose severe dangers to both the
disciplined force and public safety.
The Kerala High Court ruled that
under Section 19(1) of the POCSO
Act, mandatory reporting of
suspected child abuse must be done
promptly, with legal action only for
intentional failures. In a case where
a doctor was accused of not
reporting a minor’s pregnancy, the
court found no willful omission and
discharged the petitioner.
II - Exploring Intersections
What is the link between leadership
and psychological safety at work?
What skills and practices do we as
leaders need to bring to the table
when sustainably working on
psychological safety at work?
So many questions! In our recent
article, Rosanna Rodrigues and
Samriti Makkar Midha bring you
some helpful strategies, tools and
ideas to keep in mind while co
creating psychologically safe teams
and processes at work.
Engage with us!
Here's your weekly food for thought through a Fun Fact or Quiz.
Did you know that the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW)
incorporate key Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) requirements?
These include ensuring text is readable with sufficient contrast, providing text
alternatives for images, making interactive elements navigable by keyboard,
and structuring content so it’s understandable and predictable. By meeting
these criteria, GIGW ensures that government websites are accessible and
inclusive for all users, including those with disabilities.
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: Did you know that the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control)
Act, 2017, includes a unique provision for employees living with HIV in India?
Answer: Yes! The Act not only bans discrimination in jobs and education but
also requires public and private institutions to adopt anti-discrimination policies,
ensuring a supportive environment for people with HIV.
Here’s all the tools you need to build safe and equitable workspaces!
Drop us a Hey, to get started!
