Tag: professional misconduct

Workplace bullying transcends mere professional misconduct; it is a violation of human rights that undermines employee dignity and wellbeing. Bullying manifests in various forms - verbal, emotional, psychological and even through passive-aggressive behaviours such as exclusion and gossip. In South Africa, the implications of workplace bullying extend beyond moral concerns, as it infringes on constitutional rights.

South Africa’s third wave of COVID-19 saw healthcare professionals put in tragic circumstances where they must, in some cases, choose which patients to try and save. Effectively who lives and who dies. For healthcare professionals forced to make unenviable decisions about how to allocate clinical resourcing, this trauma is sadly compounded by the potential risk of being prosecuted for unlawful killing after being forced to make such decisions.

The primary responsibility of every accountant is to serve the public interest first. But, as asked by the Roman poet Juvenal, 'Who will guard the guards themselves?' Who ensures accountants remain accountable? This is the function of professional accountancy organisations (PAOs), and it is the reason every accountant should be a member of such an association.