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Suspensions can hang Employers

Details: Category: News Articles

BY Ivan Israelstam, Chief Executive of Labour Law Management Consulting. He may be contacted on (011) 888-7944 or 0828522973 or on e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Go to: www.labourlawadvice.co.za

Suspension occurs when an employer requires an employee temporarily to vacate its premises for reasons related to alleged misconduct or poor performance. The effect of a suspension is that the employee is not allowed to return to work until the employer instructs that he/she may do so. Such suspensions normally occur:

While the employer is investigating misconduct/poor performance allegations against the employee

While the employer and/or employee are preparing for a disciplinary hearing

After the employer has found the employee guilty of misconduct/poor performance.

In our experience the reasons that motivate employers to suspend employees include:

TES becomes driving force for South Africa’s gig economy

Details: Category: News Articles

By Natashia Barnabas, Industrial Relations Manager at Workforce Staffing
13 April 2021

Temporary Employment Services (TES) have been utilised mainly in first-world economies whereby organisations have the flexibility to procure required skills on a part-time (ad-hoc) or on a fixed term (temporary) basis. These services are usually contracted in order to complete a project, cater for a business project (fixed duration), provide additional staffing due to fluctuations in volume of work, as well as to cater for seasonal work. Adopting a gig economy within South Africa could be the turning point in the lowering of the unemployment rate and increasing the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In January 2021, The United States of America (USA) saw temporary employment rise by 81 000 jobs which amassed a total of 83,5% of new jobs just for the month. The latest unemployment rate for South Africa has revealed an increase of 32,5% with 7,2 million people jobless. However, to bolster a gig economy in South Africa, companies require a constant supply of skilled, as well as unskilled staff with the ability to manage the workforce. This is where a TES provider can assist.

Gig economy overview

By definition, a gig economy refers to a labour market whereby short-term or freelance work is preferred over that of permanent jobs. A gig refers to

Flexible staffing solutions help to address diversity and inclusion challenges in a post-Covid world

Details: Category: News Articles

By Jeandie Leone, Commercial Manager at Workforce Staffing
31 March 2021

The past year has been incredibly challenging for employees for a multitude of reasons. Adapting to the Work From Home (WFH) normal, juggling this with home schooling and facing salary cuts and lay-offs were a few of the issues faced. The greatest pressure has been felt by unskilled workers, the youth and women. Adding to these issues, there has also been an increase in discrimination around employees with health challenges or comorbidities. Temporary Employment Services (TES) providers are ideally positioned to help both employees and employers with addressing diversity and inclusion, and other challenges, in a post-Covid world.

The marginalised pushed further to the edge

The most detrimental effects of the pandemic on the workforce were felt by those who were already marginalised. The Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Surve y shows that the lower income brackets and less skilled workers, who are often from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, were at greatest risk of losing their jobs. Pregnant women and those with comorbidities were also treated differently and were at risk, particularly if they were unable to work from home.

However, while these issues were highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, they were not caused by it.