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Abstract
Workplace harassment, particularly sexual harassment, remains a pervasive issue that undermines employee dignity, equality, and mental well-being. It not only violates fundamental rights but also creates a hostile work environment, leading to reduced productivity, job dissatisfaction, and, in many cases, forced resignation. This paper examines the concept of workplace harassment, highlighting its various forms such as sexual harassment, discriminatory practices, bullying, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, cyber harassment, retaliation, and third-party misconduct. At its core, sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that infringes upon an individual’s dignity, irrespective of the perpetrator’s intent.
The study further explores India’s legal framework, particularly the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which was enacted following the landmark judgment in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan. The Act mandates preventive and redressal mechanisms such as Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) and imposes obligations on employers to ensure a safe work environment. Additional protections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita further strengthen the legal response to harassment.
The paper also assesses the broader impact of workplace harassment on individuals, organizations, and society, emphasizing its role in limiting women’s workforce participation and affecting economic growth. Despite robust legal provisions, challenges such as underreporting, social stigma, victim-blaming, and ineffective implementation persist.
A comparative perspective with countries like the United States and the United Kingdom reveals differing approaches, with India focusing on internal institutional mechanisms. The paper concludes by recommending stronger enforcement, increased awareness, and cultural transformation to eliminate harassment and promote safe, inclusive workplaces. Ultimately, addressing workplace harassment is essential not only for protecting individual rights but also for fostering equitable and productive professional environments.
"Workplace harassment: Legal safeguards, and the road to safe work environment", International Journal for Research Trends and Innovation (www.ijrti.org), ISSN:2456-3315, Vol.11, Issue 5, page no.a104-a111, May-2026, Available :http://www.ijrti.org/papers/IJRTI2605015.pdf
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2456-3315 | IMPACT FACTOR: 8.14 Calculated By Google Scholar| ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 8.14 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator