We are here to help your Entity become an empowered workplace. An empowered workplace, empowers the organisation, an empowered organisation makes employees productive and increases profitability
About Us
UCS specialises in training employees and organisations on Sexual Harassment and other soft skill training. With changing workforce scenario where more women are serious on taking up a career for themselves, India has finally recognised that gender inequality and an environment free from harassment is not only relevant for a woman working in an establishment but for the establishment itself on the whole. Sexual Harassment of women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH) has been recently introduced and it is important that not only establishments in India understand the provisions and the effect of POSH, but also make sure the work environment they are providing is free from harassment or gender inequality. Amongst several good corporate practices, the most important one is providing its employees with an inclusive environment and a workplace free from harassment for women.
POSH has made it mandatory for companies and establishments having more than 10 employees to set up an internal committee, to make their employees aware of what sexual harassment is, to handle such situations and to also equip the internal committee to handle instances of sexual harassment. This can be made possible only with periodic training and systematic reporting to the authorities until our society is equipped enough to understand the gravity of this situation. We believe that every employee in a company, specifically the Internal Committee set up to handle sexual harassment issues, needs to constantly learn and that is precisely where UCS steps in.
UCS stands for concern, commitment and competence. We are concerned and care about the employees in general and specifically working women. We are committed to this cause and believe we have the competence and the solutions that are needed to make the working environment an inclusive one.
We believe learning has to be cheerful and fun, not boring sessions that make it mundane. Our sessions are interactive and will surely make the employees and the members of the committee absorb the training imparted to them. Our training programs are conducted by professionals with decades of experience. These programs are easy to understand and are extremely simple to implement.
WHAT CAN UCS DO FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?
UCS bridges the gap between the law and the employer for your organization to be POSH compliant. With highly experienced trainers and an in-depth, technical and practical understanding of how the law works, we are equipped to support your organisation in fulfilling its obligations under the law by helping employers and employees recognize and understand their legal rights and duties when it comes to instances of sexual harassment and creating an inclusive and women-friendly workplace.
UCS provides the following services to help your organization be POSH compliant:
DRAFTING A POLICY ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE WORKPLACE
We will help you draft a sexual harassment policy in line with the law, ensure that it is in consonance with the existing service rules of your organization and where there is a discrepancy, we will help you make necessary changes to bring uniformity. The policy will define sexual harassment, describe the methodology to deal with complaints of sexual harassment and the course of action to be taken thereafter.
SETTING UP THE INTERNAL COMMITTEE
We help, support and assist organisations in setting up the Internal Committee. We advise on the constitution of the Internal Committee - who needs to head it, how many members (including women members) are required based on your employee strength and who can be appointed as the external member of the committee.
PROVIDING EXTERNAL MEMBERS TO THE INTERNAL COMMITTEE
Where an organisation is unable to appoint an external committee member, we can provide persons who can be appointed as external committee members. Where an organisation has already identified an external committee member, we support and advise the organisation by confirming that they are qualified and have the necessary expertise to act as an external committee member.
EMPLOYEE AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING
We provide awareness training for employees which includes educating them on what sexual harassment is, help women employees recognize acts of sexual harassment and explaining the organization’s stand on sexual harassment. Our training is not just focussed on imparting knowledge, we strive to make workplaces recognise and sensitise the existence of sexual harassment incidents and how it can overcome such events in future. Sexual harassment is not just about denting the wrong people it is about denting the spirit of the right people in your organisation.
We also provide awareness training for Senior Managers and Leaders in the Company. The senior managers and leaders set the tone of the organization and help it to be an inclusive one. It is therefore not enough to make senior managers aware of the meaning of sexual harassment, but also help them to look out for instances of sexual harassment or gender inequality, step in where required and keep the Internal Committee informed if they sense that an act or behaviour of an employee is not appropriate. Educating employees can protect a potential victim and promote an organisation’s potential.
We also conduct specific training sessions for an organization’s Internal Committee. Since most of the members of the Internal Committee may not be legally qualified to handle instances of sexual harassment, UCS’s team of legal advisors train the Internal Committee members in detail on their roles, responsibilities and the procedure to receive and handle a complaint and carry out an investigation, reach settlements, documentation and reporting.
We would also be happy to assist your organisation during the investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment through our legal advisors.
ANNUAL COMPLIANCES
We can support your organisation with identifying the appropriate authority to which annual reports are to be submitted, assist and support your organization in collating documents for such reporting and, where needed, assist with filing as well.
We are here to help your Entity become an empowered workplace. An empowered workplace, empowers the organisation, an empowered organisation makes employees productive and increases profitability
Our Team
Sridhar Ranganathan
Director and Co-founder
Sridhar Ranganathan, a management post graduate and CEO, Helyxon Healthcare Private Limited, is also a director and mentor at UCS. He brings to the table the tremendous experience he has gained in his 29 years and more of his corporate career (in key account handling, marketing, brand building and leadership). Prior to HELYXON he had a 21 year long stint with Allergan in various roles including the Managing Director for India and South Asia. He was one of the youngest Managing Directors in the pharmaceutical industry. He then moved as Associate Vice President for International business based at London.
He guides, mentors and leads the team at UCS. Having led large workforce successfully Sridhar brings a unique organisational and leadership perspective to building diverse and inclusive workplaces. He has contributed immensely with his experience to make awareness trainings interactive and interesting for employees.
Away from work, you can find Sridhar sharpening his oratory skills. He is a toastmaster, a humourist, a spiritualist, an avid cricket player and a fitness freak. He loves spending time with family and friends and believes in positive thinking.
Anupama V
Legal Consultant and Chief Trainer
Anupamaa is a corporate lawyer and Managing Partner of two successful firms AVRC Legal and Dr Kainth and Associates LLP. Her areas of expertise include company law, contract law, labour law and Sexual Harassment of Women (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal) Act, 2013. With her legal acumen and decades of experience in labour law, she has conducted awareness sessions for the employees of several corporates, orientation sessions for their internal committee in the last 7 years and has also helped workplaces become sensitized and respectful. Anupamaa’s expertise lies in using the law and experience to create empowered workplaces. She understands the nuances of helping organisations relook at their work practices which are not only legally right but also contextualised for easy implementation. She is on the Internal Committee of several corporates, and a non-executive director with many corporates, responsible for legal compliances. She is also pursuing PGD in Industrial Psychology and has authored a book titled ‘Ready Reckoner on Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplaces in India’.
Away from work Anupamaa, is an avid reader, a toastmaster, fitness enthusiast, loves music and spending time with her parents, family and friends.
Akash Agarwal
CEO and Co-founder
Akash Agarwal is a second-generation entrepreneur who is passionate about working with people. With over 10 years’ experience in marketing, sales, operations and management, Akash heads business development at UCS. He holds Undergraduate and Postgraduate Management degrees from Australia with specializations in HR and Entrepreneurship. Public speaking is his passion and he loves to help people and see people improve.
Dr Pooja Rai K
Consultant and Trainer
Dr Pooja is a senior psychiatrist, with a PG from KMC in Manipal. She is a consultant at Mallige Hospital specialising in Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry. She is well versed in psychotherapy dealing with behavioural personality issues and plays an important role in designing and implementing programs at UCS while retaining the socio-cultural contexts of employees and organisations. Away from work, Dr Pooja is a foodie, loves watching TV and movies, and enjoys her time with her children and family.
Kavery B. Jagdish
Legal Consultant and Trainer
Kavery completed her law from the Bangalore University and has more than 5 years experience in Company Law, Contracts, and Labour Law. She actively participates in matters related to Sexual Harassment (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal), Act 2013 and has carried out multiple training workshops and interventions for corporates. Apart from serving on the external committee at various companies, Kavery actively works on program and workshop design. Away from work, Kavery loves to spend time at her plantation in Coorg, loves reading books and loves to spend time with her son.