The New Workplace Rulebook: POSH, Gig Economy & Employee Rights
Pune, (Maharashtra), [India], January 27, 2026: Rest The Case, a prominent legal-tech platform, recently hosted a forward-looking panel discussion titled, “The New Workplace Rulebook: POSH, Gig Economy & Employee Rights.” As the Indian professional landscape undergoes a seismic shift toward hybrid models and platform-based work, the event sought to decode the legal complexities of 2025 and 2026.
The panel featured two distinguished legal practitioners: Advocate Sidhartha Das (Partner at Auromaa Associates and Vera Lex), an expert in intellectual property Advocate Dipika Panchmatia (Partner at Vigil Juris), a specialist in corporate advisory and commercial dispute resolution.
A central theme of the discussion was the evolving legal status of gig and platform workers, who often find themselves in a “gray zone” without the full protections afforded to traditional employees. The panelists highlighted how courts are increasingly looking past contract labels to apply a “control and dependence” test, citing recent judicial trends that hold platforms accountable for the safety and dignity of their workforce.
Advocate Sidhartha Das explained that the way we solve work fights is changing. Instead of waiting years in a crowded court, many companies now use “Arbitration” (a private way to settle disputes). However, he warned that we must be careful to ensure this is fair for the employee and not just a benefit for the big company with more money. He also noted that because more people are being hired on short-term contracts in 2026, the legal “fine print” in your contract is now more important than ever.
Advocate Dipika Panchmatia talked about the “Reality Test.” She said that even if a company calls you a “partner” or a “freelancer” in your contract, the law might still treat you as a full employee if the company controls your hours, your pay, and how you do your job. She also pointed out a big problem with safety: many office “Internal Committees” don’t know how to handle digital harassment, like mean messages on WhatsApp or inappropriate behavior on Zoom calls, and they need to catch up fast.
Shreya Sharma, Founder and Director of Rest The Case, expressed her views “In an era where the workplace is evolving faster than the law, flexibility must never come at the cost of basic dignity. Our goal for 2026 is to move beyond ‘paper checklists’ toward a legal ecosystem that ensures every worker—whether in a high-rise office or on a mobile app—is protected by transparency, safety, and a fair right to be heard.”
For more updates on upcoming events and legal insights, visit Rest The Case or follow them on social media at @restthecase__india.
