Digital danger: Workplace sexual harassment online
PoSH covers digital harassment: inappropriate messages/calls, cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing & gendered abuse via work platforms.
From sweet to sour – when terms of endearment backfire.
Sweetie/”beta” etc. become harassment when unwelcome, infantilising or undermining professionalism. Context & recipient reaction define appropriateness.
Three ways to respond to a PoSH complaint as a colleague
Colleagues should offer support without prying, respect confidentiality, and share factual testimony if they witnessed events. They must never victim-blame.
Presiding officer: Not just a post-stamp leader
The IC Presiding Officer must actively steer inquiries, ensure procedural fairness, manage dynamics & uphold PoSH’s spirit – not merely rubber-stamp decisions.
The zero complaints conundrum
Zero PoSH complaints often signal fear, mistrust or poor awareness – not model compliance. Proactive culture audits are essential.
Setting up an IC with only male employees
All-male workplaces must still form ICs per PoSH rules, appointing an external woman member and ensuring gender diversity where possible in the committee.
