Unveiling the Shadows: KelpHR’s Groundbreaking Survey Exposes Alarming Workplace Harassment Trends – 409 Victims, 119 Managers, and the Urgent Call for Change

Mumbai, 5th December 2023: KelpHR, one of India’s leading HR solutions providers, is delighted to unveil the much-anticipated 4th edition of the KelpHR PoSH Awards® 2023. This event will shine a spotlight on the Top 25 Safest Workplaces in India. The award ceremony will be held in Mumbai on December 7, 2023, in attendance will be global organisations, industry experts, and luminaries to recognise and honour the pillars of workplace safety and inclusion.

KelpHR takes a significant stride this year by introducing “The Torchbearers” or the Triple Safety Award. This distinctive accolade acknowledges organisations that have been consistently honoured as the Top 25 safest workplaces in India at the KelpHR PoSH Awards® for three consecutive years, commencing in 2021. The Triple Safety Award aims to commend organisations that have displayed an unwavering commitment to preventing sexual harassment.

The KelpHR PoSH Awards® 2023 will be presided over by Chief Guest – Dr. Pradnya Saravade (IPS), Director General of Police, Railways, Maharashtra State, and Keynote Speaker Sridhar Rangayan, Director of the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. This event will be MC’d by Nishtha Nishant, a prominent transgender personality who embodies the event’s distinctive and inclusive culture. The event will also draw attendance from essential stakeholders, including HR heads/CXOs of the 50 finalist organisations, jury members, well-wishers, and the KelpHR team and board members.

The fourth edition showcases an esteemed panel of judges providing valuable insights for the creation of inclusive environments. This year’s jury comprises Dr. Dharaniikota Suyodhan, International commercial and corporate lawyer; Zainab Patel, Chief Inclusion & Diversity at Pernod Ricard India; Alok Prasanna Kumar, Co-Founder and Lead at VIDHI Centre for Legal Policy; Vaishali Shintre-Bhagwat, Practising Lawyer & Chevening Scholar; CJ Joveson, Advocate at Bombay High Court; Madhura Dasgupta Sinha, Founder & CEO of Aspire for Her; and Tina Vinod, Founder & Chief Consultant at Diversity Simplified.

KelpHR recently released the results of its employee survey conducted across the 30 organisations who were finalists at the KelpHR PoSH Awards 2022; which garnered an impressive 15,206 responses. The survey sheds light on the prevalence of workplace harassment and the imperative need for proactive measures. Among the key findings:

• 409 individuals out of 15,206 respondents reported being victims of sexual harassment in the workplace
• 119 of the victims held managerial positions, underscoring the need to address this issue at all levels of the organisation
• 69% of the victims chose not to report the incidents, emphasising the necessity for a more conducive environment for reporting.
• Out of 5,217 surveyed women, 3% reported facing workplace harassment.
• Among 9,921 surveyed men, 3% also reported harassment.

These statistics highlight the critical importance of fostering a workplace culture that actively addresses and prevents harassment, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all employees. The KelpHR PoSH Awards® serve as a platform to recognise organisations actively working towards eliminating harassment and championing the cause of safer workplaces.

Smita Shetty Kapoor, CEO & Co-founder of KelpHR, stated,“As we commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the POSH Act on December 9, 2023, we stand firm in our belief that every employee deserves to work in an environment that is not only compliant but goes above and beyond to create a culture of safety. The KelpHR PoSH Awards® are our way of recognising and celebrating organisations that share this commitment. It is an honour to be part of a movement that encourages the continuous improvement of workplace safety and inclusivity.”

The esteemed recipients of the KelpHR PoSH Awards® in 2023 comprise prominent entities such as Indigo Airlines, Uber India, DBS Technology Solutions India, Tata Consulting Engineers Limited, Swiss Re, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Limited and numerous other organisations spanning a wide array of sectors, including automotive, aviation, consulting, IT, ITES, Pharma, manufacturing, financial services, and social service.

About KelpHR:

KelpHR, established in 2013, is a prominent provider of HR solutions, dedicated to creating positive transformations in workplace culture. With a decade of experience and having served more than 800 clients in India and overseas, KelpHR specialises in PoSH, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Employee Assistance Programs, all with the common goal of fostering safer, happier, inclusive, and productive workplaces.