Tag: Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)

The Job Seekers Exemption Certificate (JSEC) idea has been around for a long time. It was first presented to President Thabo Mbeki, who passed it on to the Department of Labour. But nothing was done with it. It seems that it is only when you are unemployed that you can understand that it will be like holding a piece of gold in your hand.

The globe is on lockdown at the moment as we all face the COVID-19 pandemic, and this is a time which is creating a lot of fear, anxiety and uncertainty in the workplace. It is not just with people now having to work from home, but for those who have pursued new job opportunities and received job offers to start during or after lockdown, and now face a highly unnerving state of anxiety about if they will start or not or if their offers will be withdrawn or if they should even hand in their resignations.

An interview with Michael Yeates, Director Employment Practice, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, and Dr Ivor Blumenthal, CEO, ArkKonsult, discussing the relief and assistance for employers and employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Employment and Labour has recently provided much needed guidance in respect of questions which employers have been grappling with since President Ramaphosa's declaration of a National State of Disaster on Sunday 15 March 2020.

With more than a third of employees reporting acts of bullying in the workplace, this has become a significant issue in South Africa that negatively impacts teamwork and morale. I discuss what bullying entails and the precautions companies can take against this form of abuse.

The Constitutional Court delivered judgement in the case of Association of Mine Workers and Construction Union and Others v Royal Bafokeng Platinum Mine Limited and Others. In this matter, the constitutionality of Section 189(1) of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) was debated.

Consistently poor conduct normally reflects a management that is either unskilled or unwilling to manage employee conduct.

It is a well established and non-negotiable requirement that the employee accused at a disciplinary hearing be allowed to defend himself. This includes challenging the employer’s evidence.

The role of job evaluation, also referred to as job grading is still poorly understood in the corporate sector. Job evaluation give companies the information they need to fairly, accurately and competitively determine the salaries of staff - amongst many other functions.

Employees engaged in strike action who carry dangerous weapons during a strike run the risk of dismissal. The act of carrying weapons exposes others to the risk of injury and also serves to threaten and intimidate others. This kind of conduct is not protected by the right to strike.