Human Capital

There are few life experiences quite as exciting and nerve-wracking as starting a new job. Whether you have just landed your first role or you are an experienced professional taking on a new challenge, the early days matter. These first days and weeks shape expectations and set the stage for long-term success. Starting a new job requires intention, awareness and preparation from the outset.

Unprotected strikes will often merit dismissal where the employer has not provoked them. However, even in the absence of provocation, dismissal may still be unfair. This distinction is critical for employers navigating strike-related discipline. One factor that can bedevil an employer’s case is inconsistency in the decision to dismiss.

The city is still dark when her alarm sounds. A faint digital chime cuts through the quiet as her children sleep. Her day begins long before sunrise. First comes the walk to the taxi rank. Then follows a crowded minibus ride and the slow crawl through Johannesburg’s traffic.

For many companies and their teams, the new era of ‘work from anywhere’ offers professionals unprecedented location flexibility. Families can travel more easily because work can now be managed alongside holidays. Professionals can balance work and family trips without rushing or postponing plans.

With effect from 22 April 2025, the Gauteng Division of the High Court introduced mandatory mediation before civil trials. As a result, parties must first undergo mediation before applying for a trial date. In practical terms, mediation is not optional in civil litigation within this division.

For many South African leaders, the "summer slump" is a familiar challenge. Productivity dips, engagement fades, and skeleton crews struggle to keep the lights on. However, this narrative of an unavoidable cost misses a critical opportunity hidden within the pre-holiday period. The real danger is not the slowdown itself. It is the surge of resignation letters that often lands on desks in January - a surge that frequently results from a strategic miscalculation in communication.

Most companies hide behind the warm fiction of being “a family.” Netflix didn’t. It called itself a team - and built a $300 billion powerhouse on that single, uncomfortable truth. Few workplace cultures are as controversial or as misunderstood, yet none are as clear about the price of greatness: average performance earns a generous severance package; excellence earns radical trust and total freedom.

As 2025 draws to a close, employees planning to resign in the coming months or in the new year should prioritise leaving with grace. Resignations today are far more than a mere formality. They are a defining moment in a professional’s career. Resigning with integrity ensures that professionals maintain both their reputation and future opportunities.

On 12 September 2025, the Labour Court handed down judgment in Nedbank Limited vs Olwage and Others. The court set aside an arbitration award that had found the dismissal of a former employee substantively unfair. The judgment provides critical guidance on how decision-makers should assess harassment allegations. It also clarifies the role of arbitrators. Importantly, it reinforces the need for a victim-centred lens.

South Africa's Constitution stands as a global pioneer. It was the first in the world to prohibit unfair discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Employment Equity Act of 1998 reinforces this protection and makes it illegal to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ individuals in the workplace. Understanding LGBTQIA+ in this context is essential for any employer committed to meaningful inclusion.