EXTERNAL MEMBER SERVICES
9,000+ Workplace Sexual Harassment Cases. Decades of Experience Strengthening Internal Committees.
Under the PoSH Act, 2013, every Internal Committee (IC) must include an External Member. This is not a formality — it ensures independence, fairness, and defensibility in workplace sexual harassment compliance.
Through Ungender's POSH External Member empanelment services, enterprises gain access to vetted professionals who bring legal knowledge, investigation expertise, and cross-sector advisory experience to support Internal Committees with diligence.
WHY EXTERNAL MEMBERS MATTER
Your Internal Committee Needs More Than a Policy — It Needs Independent Oversight
The presence of an External Member adds credibility to the IC, prevents procedural lapses, and reassures employees of impartial grievance handling.
Organizations with Qualified External Members
Impact on IC effectiveness and employee confidence
Legal Compliance
Required under PoSH Act, 2013
Employee Confidence
Higher trust in IC processes
Faster Resolution
Quicker case processing
The risks of not appointing a qualified External Member are significant:
₹50,000 fine
under Section 26 of the PoSH Act for non-compliance.
Court challenges
where enquiry findings are struck down.
Loss of employee trust
in workplace grievance systems.
The largest penalty imposed under the PoSH Act — ₹1.68 crores — arose directly from Internal Committee mistakes in handling a case. Having a qualified External Member as part of IC proceedings is a safeguard against such risks.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Compliance Is Not Enough. Credibility Matters.
A compliant IC is not automatically a credible IC. When External Members are truly qualified and engaged, they transform IC effectiveness.
Why?
Too often, organizations treat External Member appointment as a formality. But qualified External Members who bring legal expertise, investigation skills, and independence are what make ICs truly effective.
Organizations miss the mark when External Members are passive participants rather than active contributors. Employees don't just want policies—they want confidence that investigations will be fair, thorough, and legally sound.
True IC effectiveness isn't about checking boxes. According to our experience across 9,000+ cases, there's a direct correlation between External Member quality and investigation outcomes, employee trust, and legal defensibility.
Organizations with qualified External Members see measurable differences in:
Higher Employee Confidence
Faster Case Resolution
Legal Defensibility Rate
Fewer Investigation Appeals*
*Compared to ICs with inexperienced External Members
The difference between appointment and engagement is simple: Your IC's credibility is a direct response to the External Member's qualifications and involvement. Organizations that invest in experienced External Members don't just meet compliance—they build trust.
At Ungender, our POSH compliance advisory ensures External Members are not just appointed, but actively engaged in case management, investigation support, and documentation integrity — building ICs that employees can trust.
