Can employees be disciplined for criminal activities which took place outside the employer’s workplace premises and outside working hours?

There are instances in which employers may have the right to discipline and potentially dismiss employees who engage in misconduct outside of the workplace and outside of working hours. Whether this is permissible in principle will depend on whether the conduct impacts on the employment relationship and whether the employee has sufficient and legitimate interest in the conduct. It is not necessary for an employer to await the decision of […]

Breaking Speed limit after Curfew in Company Car

Driving company vehicle for private use, in excess of the speed limit of 120kph and after regulated lockdown curfew hours The above-combined offences committed by the employee constitute gross misconduct. Unauthorised use of the employer’s vehicle for private purposes constitutes a serious breach, in terms of the employer’s disciplinary procedure and code. Furthermore, if an employee drives the employer’s vehicle in excess of the South African national maximum speed limit, […]

Is Employer still liable for employee’s health and safety even if employee works from home?

With the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of companies have allowed employees to start working from home. How does this then affect the employer’s responsibility for their employees? Especially in terms of the health and safety of each employee. The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act defines the workplace as any place where a person performs work for the employer. Employers, therefore, have a legal obligation, as far as reasonably practicable, […]

Religious Leave

In South Africa, companies are used to giving their employees time off for Christian religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas. They fall within the “statutory” 12 public holidays annually. But what do you do if your employees have other religions and need time off for their own religious holidays? Policy The Company recognizes that the employees may wish to observe festivals and holy days required by their religious beliefs. […]

Maternity Leave

When it comes to Maternity Leave, here is what employers and employees need to know The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) (Section 25) entitles the pregnant employee to at least four consecutive months’ unpaid maternity leave. It further stipulates that the maternity leave must commence no later than four weeks before the expected date of birth of the child. The employee may return to work before the six weeks […]

Study Leave

What do Employees and Employers need to know about Study Leave? Labour legislation is silent on the matter of study leave. This is a matter of arrangement between the employer and the employee and if the employer stipulates that study leave must be deducted from the employee’s annual leave entitlement or be taken as unpaid leave, then that decision must apply. You will need a policy that covers various aspects. […]

Family Responsibility Leave

When it comes to Family Responsibilities. How much is the Employee Entitled to? Employees who have been in employment with the same employer for more than four (4) months and who work for the same employer for at least 4 days per week are entitled to three (3) days Family Responsibility Leave on full pay, per annum, with the exception of domestic workers, whose entitlement is five (5) days. Family […]

Annual Leave

All you need to know regarding Annual leave. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) Section 19 onwards in Chapter 3 covers employee’s rights with respect to all types of leave. The provisions regarding all types of leave do not apply to employees who work less than 24 hours per month. Employees are entitled to 15 workings days per annum on full pay. The Act states “21 consecutive days” (section […]

Questions & Answers on Sick Leave Entitlement

In this article, we answer the questions that you may be asking according to sick leave and what employees are entitled to and what counts as proof for a sick day. Questions: How much sick leave is an employee entitled to? If an employee works five days a week, he’s allowed 30 days paid sick leave in three years. If he works six days a week, he’s entitled to 36 […]

Covid-19 vaccines can be made mandatory in South Africa

With Effect from 11 June 2021. Covid-19 vaccines can be made mandatory in South Africa. The Department of Employment and Labour has issued an updated occupational health and safety direction which, among other things, expressly permits an employer to implement a mandatory workplace vaccination policy subject to specific guidelines. The Minister of Employment and Labour has gazetted a consolidated Direction on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in certain workplaces. These […]

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