Human Capital

While alcohol-related offences can sometimes merit dismissal, this is not always the case. For example, where the employee has clinically been shown to be an alcoholic, treatment rather than punishment should be implemented. This is due to the employee’s incapacity. However, incapacity is not the only factor that could render such a dismissal unfair.

For many of us, work is one of the most significant factors in our general health and mood. When it goes well, it can be excellent. Work can be creative, lucrative and sociable. But when it does not, we often feel overloaded and stressed. Post COVID-19, many companies are making an effort to show they care. They offer better hours, remote work options, and lunchtime yoga classes.

Multitasking comes naturally to you as the owner or manager of a small, growing business. But when it comes to recruitment, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) feel stretched. Without an internal recruiter or a dedicated HR team, it is difficult to know where to start.

The recruitment landscape has been fundamentally transformed. In 2025, organisations regularly hire thousands of employees in a single quarter, contending with unprecedented demand for talent while maintaining rigorous standards for quality and candidate experience.

Should graduates be worried about Artificial Intelligence (AI)? AI is changing what it means to step into the job market. At the same time, it is opening doors for those ready to learn. Graduation is a moment of arrival. It represents the first exciting step into adulthood, independence and the beginning of a career.

Burnout and unhappiness at work are more common than you think. According to a survey from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 60% of respondents wish they could afford to quit their jobs. Additionally, 50% of respondents feel unhappy about returning to work each Monday. Some 13% report burnout. These are alarming statistics.

Almost 80% of multinational and large corporations in South Africa experience ongoing difficulty recruiting critically skilled individuals. This highlights the severity of the talent shortage and its impact on business development. The situation underscores the persistent critical skills shortages affecting multiple sectors.

For many companies, transformation requirements such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), compliance still feel like an administrative burden. However, the Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative challenges that perception. It goes beyond compliance by offering a practical and cost-efficient tool for business growth and flexibility.

You’ve put in the hours, written the exams and now graduation is on the horizon. But when should you start applying for jobs? How early is too early? Whether you’re completing a diploma, higher certificate, degree or even a postgraduate programme like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), timing matters.

In mining, the goals are clear: safety, productivity, profitability. Leadership spends countless hours developing strategies. They align KPIs and ensure plans are in place to keep the business moving forward. But on the ground, where boots hit rock, what’s planned often gets lost in translation.