Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Education Pack
IBM Confidential
Why this education?
To understand what constitutes workplace
harassment and inappropriate conduct and how it
impacts the work environment.
IBM Confidential
From the Business Conduct Guidelines
3.1 Work environment
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IBM Anti Harassment Policy- India
IBM India is committed to provide all employees an environment
free of any kind of harassment based on race, color, sex, religion
or sexual orientation.
In line with the Indian Labor laws, IBM has set up the
Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee. The committee
would work towards preventing and prohibiting inappropriate,
intimidating, or otherwise offensive sexually-related conduct.
The law also specifies a demographic composition for the
committee and mandates that it also consist of an external
person who is not personally or professionally related or in any
way connected to the employer.
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The committee members will objectively
investigate any concerns that may be raised by
employees and provide recommendations.
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What is Sexual harassment?
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What is unwelcome behavior?
Unwelcome as the word suggests, is behavior that is not welcome,
not solicited and not wanted by the offended person.
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Two kinds of Harassment
Type 1: Quid Pro Quo
this is the you do something for me and I ll do
something for you type of exchange. In this case, the
exchange is between managers and subordinates.
Example:
Hiring and firing ; Threat/ Preferential treatment
a manager promises a raise if she will go out on a date
with him, or tells she will be fired if she doesn t concede
to his request.
It also occurs when the person makes an evaluative
decision, or provides or withholds professional
opportunities based on another person s submission to
verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct or a sexual nature
Quid pro quo harassment is equally unlawful whether
the victim resists and suffers the threatened harm or
submits and thus avoids the threatened harm
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Type 2: Hostile Environment :
It is an unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature
creates an intimidating, offensive or disruptive work
environment for some members.
Example:
Offensive remarks, off-color jokes, commenting on
physical attributes, using inappropriate terms such as
babe sexy, etc.
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TOP TEN DANGER ZONES
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How do I know that my behavior is
inappropriate, unwelcome or unwanted
II. Does the person show any non-verbal signs that your behavior is not
welcome, such as:
1. Avoiding you; Walking away from you; Avoiding being along with you;
2. Physically distancing himself or herself from you
3. Rolling his or her eyes;
4. Changing the subject of the conversation; or
5. Not laughing at your jokes; or
6. Blushing
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Contd
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Dating with subordinates prohibited
A manager may not date or have a romantic relationship with
a subordinate or who reports through his or her management
chain, even when the relationship is voluntary and welcome
on the part of both the manager and the subordinate.
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What is Retaliation ?
Retaliation against those reporting harassment is prohibited by
law and IBM policy.
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Varied circumstances
Victim need not be a person directly harassed
but anyone who finds the behavior offensive
and is affected by it.
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How to Prevent Harassment at workplace
1. Professionalism is of utmost importance at all times which
includes
attitude, behavior and dressing.
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5. Emphatic NO to the offensive behavior as soon as it occurs. If it
continues, keep details of dates, times, places and what happened.
Names of witnesses to these situations must also be noted.
8. If you fear that your own behavior has been misunderstood, take
the time to explain and apologize to your coworker.
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Manager Responsibilities
MANAGERS must:
Ensure no retaliation
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Individuals Responsibilities
Should:
Understand the IBM Harassment Policy
Be aware of how your conduct may be
perceived by others
Respect coworkers and business associates
Report harassment to your immediate
manager, senior manager, Human Resources
or the Open Door Process
Should not:
Indulge in any offensive conduct
Tolerate harassment or inappropriate conduct
Must not:
Engage in any conduct prohibited by IBM
policy
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What you can do as a colleague?
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Conduct prohibited at IBM
Includes, but is not limited to:
X Unwelcome sexual advances, suggestive or lewd remarks
If possible, speak with the individual directly and inform him or her
that you feel the behavior is inappropriate. Direct communication is
the most effective means of stopping sexually harassing behavior.
Document any such discussions you have with the harasser and
any further occurrences of sexually harassing behavior.
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POSH Committee Chairpersons
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Resolution process
A formal investigation is initiated by raising a written complaint, which
should contain:
The name and all known details of the person/s allegedly causing the
harassment
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Conclusion & Summary
Every person and representative @ IBM work
locations should be sensitive to the serious
consequences that sexual harassment brings
to the business. In addition to the potential
liability, harassment that goes unchecked can
destroy employee morale, negatively impact
the self esteem of the victims.
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