The Grey Zone Economy: Consent, Power & Boundaries at Work
Episode 2 with Sneha Khanedkar
Most workplace issues don’t begin with obvious misconduct. They begin with assumptions, silence, hierarchy, and blurred boundaries.
In this episode of The Sassy Hour, Nazneen speaks with Sneha Khandekar, a gender diversity consultant and workplace inclusion specialist with nearly two decades of experience working at the intersection of policy, power, and workplace behaviour.
Together they unpack the growing confusion around consent, harassment, and professional boundaries in modern workplaces - especially as digital communication, generational shifts, and increased documentation culture change how people interpret behaviour.
The conversation explores why many professionals today feel caught between two anxieties:
• Young employees unsure about what behaviour is acceptable or risky.
• Managers and leaders worried about crossing invisible lines.
Through practical scenarios and the interactive segment “Boundary Bingo”, the episode breaks down how small grey-zone behaviours can slowly escalate when power dynamics, silence, and ambiguity combine.Rather than focusing on blame, the discussion focuses on pattern recognition, early intervention, and clearer communication.
Listeners will gain practical insight into how workplace boundaries actually break, and how they can be addressed earlier.
What this Episode Covers
• What consent actually means in workplace contexts.
• How hierarchy affects consent and comfort
• Verbal harassment vs digital harassment
• Peer-to-peer vs manager-to-employee behaviour
• Why Gen Z professionals draw clearer boundaries
• The role of screenshots, documentation, and escalation culture
• How grey-zone behaviour patterns escalate into bigger issues
Sneha Khandekar is a gender diversity consultant and workplace inclusion specialist with nearly two decades of experience working across corporates, government systems, and academic institutions.
She has been associated with initiatives such as the Savitribai Phule Gender Resource Centre (MCGM) and works with organisations to strengthen workplace harassment prevention frameworks, gender sensitivity, and organisational culture.
In addition to consulting, Sneha has served as a faculty member and instructor, training students and professionals on gender, law, and workplace ethics.