Everyone must get equal opportunity to work, regardless of race, caste, religion, colour, ancestry, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, nationality, ethnic origin or disability. A safe and conducive work environment should enable all to work without fear of prejudice, gender bias and sexual harassment, where employer and employees respect each other’s integrity and dignity, their privacy, their right to equality and right to opportunity in the workplace, is created. Equality in employment can be seriously impaired when individuals are subjected to discrimination by way of sexual harassment at workplace. Each such incident results in the violation of fundamental rights of individuals. It is essential to distinguish traditional mindset of harassment being physical and understand the implications of ‘innocent gestures’ which can actually be treated as harassment.

Therefore, it is essential to cultivate a workplace culture that continues to be safe and healthy as the new norm. So that one is able to understand the law and some do’s and don’ts better, the Membership and Public Relations Committee of the Chamber of Tax Consultants organised a webinar as the part of the SAS initiative on “Understanding Sexual Harassment at the work place in the New Normal”. It was great interacting with the audience.