Tag: job loss

The stock market can be volatile, but it’s a market that many people will delve into at some point in their lives whether directly buying shares or through their employer retirement saving fund. I believe that investments should form a core part of any financial planning, even during uncertain times.

As most household incomes shrink, Savings Month, this year coinciding with South Africa’s fifth month of COVID-19 lockdown, is placing monthly expenses, especially insurance bills, firmly in the spotlight. And it is not a kind light. It is critical that South Africans under stress use any extra time they may have in lockdown to sensibly review their insurance covers.

In much of the world, the LGBTQ+ community has made great strides toward ‘equal’ even though the odds have been against them. The LGBTQ+ community knows adversity well and discomfort still abounds. By some basic measures, LGBTQ+ employees in many parts of the world have progressed in the workplace but behind the outward signs of progress, LGBTQ+ employees experience often unseen – but deeply felt – challenges and privately held fears on the job.

As a result of the current economic crisis that the world faces, organisational change is an unfortunate reality for many businesses. This can lead to changes in the market as businesses adopt Working From Home (WFH), shifts in business strategies, the need to optimise processes, has already led to job losses and retrenchments.

Tourism is a significant sector. It directly and indirectly supports 8,6% of South Africa’s GDP. Its economic activity encompasses all non-commuter passenger travel, car hire, a wide range of accommodation types, a vast array of activities and attractions, conference centres, retail and restaurants and services such as tour operators, travel agents, conference and event organisers and the like.

President Cyril Ramaphosa presented the five-level, risk-adjusted strategy that will guide South Africa’s emergence from lockdown. As the finer points of the strategy were shared, it became clearer how - and when - certain sectors will once again gear up into activity.

Many companies will have to go into recovery mode once the lockdown and the restrictive measures that were put in place are officially lifted. With industries already burdened by the instability of our economy, many will have to look into ways that can help market and position their businesses as crucial entities to the masses.

The world we left behind when we entered lockdown will be very different to the world we walk into after the devastating effects of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented test of our resilience and demands during these uncertain times that we find ourselves in.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide surpassed one million last week. This number probably still understates the true spread of the coronavirus given the lack of testing in many places, and the fact that some infected persons don’t show symptoms.

As South Africans face the reality of a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, working from home has become the 'new normal' overnight – and if properly managed, it can be just as productive as being in the office. South African companies now join millions of businesses across the globe forced to learn fast and on-the-job how to manage a completely remote workforce.