It is quite common for an employee, accused of a serious act of misconduct, to be suspended from duty pending the holding of a Disciplinary Hearing.
However employers should be very careful before suspending such an employee.
Our Labour Court has made clear that such a suspension must have good valid reasons before the court will recognize that it is legitimate.  In addition the principle of Audi Alteram Partem must be observed by the employer.  The Audi Alteram Partem principle means that the accused employee must be able to give his version …

Three significant events have affected wage settlements in this period:
 
These are:
-The world cup
-The decrease in the inflation rate
-The decrease in the interest rate
 
The following wage settlements have been entered into:
(i) SACCAWU and Tsogo sun/Sun international 8.75%
(ii) FAWU and SAB 7.8%
(iii) SACCAWU and entertainment employers 8.5%
(iv) UASA and diamond cutting industry 10%
 
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The present Global Finance crisis is now hurting many South African Companies.  This has caused many organizations to begin retrenching employees.
Employers who retrench employees and employees themselves need to be aware of what employers must do when retrenching employees.

There’s a new Director General in the Department of Labour, Mzwanele Jimmy Manyi. He took office from 1st September 2009. Clearly one of his priorities will be the proper implementation of the Employment Equity Act. He has made this quiet clear when he has spoken as the chairperson of the Employment Equity Committee.
This is what he has said:
“You better touch our hand whilst we are still giving it”. “I want to warn them that the revolution will be a revolution of all black people”. “I am as angry as I …

The situation that the construction industry was facing was predictable. It is not a surprise that trade unions would use the 2010 World Cup to their best advantage during their annual negotiations.
A power dynamic exists in the relationship between the employers and trade unions. With the advent of the World Cup the power of trade unions is increasing.
 
Employers should have foreseen this and planned ahead. Trade union-employer agreements could have been negotiated for a 3 year period 2008-2010 taking into consideration inflationary pressures and the 2010 World Cup demands. A …

“Modern civilization is teetering on the brink of an epidemic in ‘emotional idiocy’”.
Anna Maravelas “How to reduce workplace conflict and stress”
We have seen a disturbing trend in the South African workplace: intra-group conflict is on the rise. Conflict within management teams and between departments is an increasing part of the workplace reality. Our observation is that this problem generally is handled incorrectly. Managers “manage around” the conflict without realizing the unmeasured but real costs of this approach. Organisations need to learn how to reduce workplace conflict and stress. Organisations that have done …

To find out more about Anna Maravelas, please click here
 

To view what other people that have attended her seminars or read her book, please click here

At least 5 myths or urban legends regarding BEE have taken root and have grown into fairly large indigenous trees. Which of the 5 myths do you believe are true?
Myth One
I must sell (or give) at least 25% of the shares in my business to a Black person.
This is the most widely held myth. It is simply not true. The myth has come about because the companies who do sell shares to a Black person publically announce the deal to get the most publicity out of the transaction. If you …

Pietermaritzburg also has its share of problems.  On Monday and Tuesday the 4th and 5th August 2008 the trial of Mr Jacob Zuma the President of the ANC takes place in Pietermaritzburg.  It seems clear that many people will be converging on Pietermaritzburg in a show of solidarity with Mr Jacob Zuma. 
The Taxi Associations in Pietermaritzburg have indicated that they will not be providing public transport to the Industrial areas of the Pietermaritzburg but will be attending the trial of Mr Jacob Zuma.  Consequently those employees who use taxi’s to …

COSATU and the Taxi Association have called for a National Stay Away on the 6th August 2008.   COSATU have done this with conjunction with the Taxi Council and the Taxi Association.  This is to protest against the rapid increases in the price of food and petrol.
Whilst this is called a National Stay Away the reality is that is a National Strike.  As it falls within the ambit of Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act (Act 66 of 1995) it is a strike which complies with the Act and therefore …