On April 21, members and staff gathered in the Society Board Room for a full-day session titled Building a Sexual Harassment-Free Workplace in Electricity, facilitated by Muhammad Ahsan. The session brought together participants from various Society Locals to explore how workplaces across the electricity sector can become safer, more inclusive, and more respectful for everyone. Through presentations, discussions, and interactive case studies, attendees examined the causes and impacts of gender-based violence (GBV), including harassment, discrimination, and other harmful workplace behaviours. Conversations focused on prevention strategies such as strengthening policies, promoting accountability, encouraging bystander intervention, and fostering workplace cultures built on respect and trust.
In the afternoon, the session shifted toward effective responses to workplace incidents, with participants discussing trauma-informed investigations, accessible reporting processes, confidentiality, and support systems for affected individuals. Practical exercises allowed attendees to apply these concepts to real-world scenarios, reinforcing the importance of empathy, consistency, and clear procedures when addressing sensitive situations. The day concluded with a shared commitment to bringing these lessons back to local workplaces and continuing the work of building harassment-free environments through education, dialogue, and collective action.
