Human Capital

In the high-stakes world of business, where boardrooms are often dominated by men, navigating a career can be daunting for women. With the right support systems, women can thrive and excel in any professional environment.

In the fast-paced realm of people management, "induction" and "onboarding" are frequently used interchangeably, yet each bears unique significance in shaping the employee experience (EX). First impressions leave a lasting impact. Employers have an average of 44 days to “make or break” a new joiner, according to a survey released by cloud-based human resources platform BambooHR.

Like with most things around us, the global workforce of today is experiencing immense change. Workplaces are transforming at rapid rates, while new generations are entering the workforce and bringing with them a new outlook and work ethic.

Expanding operations across borders is becoming the norm in the modern business landscape, but with this expansion comes the challenge of managing payroll on a global scale. It’s a complex and crucial task that involves navigating diverse regulations, juggling multiple currencies and ensuring accurate payments to employees worldwide.

The workplace is one of the most important social resources in a typical adult’s life but more meetings, faceless chats and fewer work friends is fuelling an epidemic of loneliness. Right now, people are experiencing a surge in loneliness so profound that the American Surgeon General has characterised it as an epidemic. Some believe remote and flexible work is at fault, fraying our social ties by removing incidental interactions from our daily lives but the data tells a different story.

Much has been written about the digital skills shortage. This is not a problem that will be solved overnight. As technology evolves, the demand for specific skills outpaces their availability. And as more people gain these sought-after competencies, there may be a temporary oversaturation of the market. Once parity is reached, new advancements shift the landscape again, and so the cycle continues.

In a significant move poised to reshape the landscape of traditional medicine in South Africa, the Minister of Health has proposed new regulations for traditional health practitioners. These regulations, set to be implemented under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, aim to address longstanding concerns about the legitimacy of medical certificates issued by traditional healers and bring greater clarity to businesses grappling with uncertainty in this area.

What exactly makes a business a great place to work? Some might say it’s the pay, the beautiful offices, or the generous perks. While all these things do play a role, a business’ true attractiveness lies firmly rooted in the work environment that it fosters.

The fusion of technology and healthcare has reshaped how organisations approach employee wellness, and telehealth is at the forefront of this change. Daily, approximately 15% of South African employees miss work, costing businesses between R12 billion and R16 billion a year. What’s more, it's estimated that up to 25% of all employees in South Africa will experience depression or some kind of mental health problem annually.

Local businesses that have transitioned to hybrid work programmes are well aware of the potential productivity gains to be had when employees have the flexibility to work from anywhere. Of course, the journey from a traditional office setup to a complete remote model during the pandemic was the catalyst for this model.