When it comes to CCMA and Bargaining Council matters, we take it very seriously. Our CCMA and BC preparation begins with our employment contracts and continues through the effective implementation of the disciplinary process. We ensure that substantive and procedural fairness is maintained in disciplinary action taken. If you are simply looking for legal advice and need to discuss the risks and merits of your upcoming case, we can guide you through every step of the process and provide you with the best legal advice. Need more information? Contact us now

Department of Labour inspections are increasing in frequency as the government seeks to ensure all businesses, big or small, are complying. The continuous amendments to labour law make it difficult for employers to keep track of the requirements. Unemployment Insurance Fund(UIF) and Workmen’s Compensation(COID) registration and updating can be daunting at times. We will draft employment contracts that comply with the BCEA. Our consultants will liaise with the Department of Labour to reduce workplace disturbances and assist you with compliance. Give us a call to prevent contravention and compliance orders from becoming hefty CCMA awards against you.

Whilst we acknowledge and understand the rights of collective bargaining, we also know the legal requirements that need to be satisfied in order to be entitled to organisational rights. We have extensive experience with union negotiations, and we understand the balance that is required in handling such matters for the employer. Without expert advice, trade unions can disrupt your workplace and stunt your business’ growth.

The chairperson of a disciplinary hearing needs to be well versed with the principles of labour law in order to ensure the outcome is not procedurally and substantively unfair. As a neutral third party, we are also further removed from charges of unfair bias or conflict of interest that an HR Manager may face. We can chair your staff disciplinary hearings at our boardroom facilities, at your workplace or via video conferencing. We can provide interpreters when required and complete the lengthy administrative documentation that accompany hearings. Let us take care of this process.

When employees fail to adhere to workplace policies, procedures and standards or when they display poor behaviour in the workplace, it is known as misconduct. Our experienced labour consultants are well equipped to handle staff misconduct and apply the appropriate sanctions based on your workplace policies and within the legal framework. We know how important it is to correct bad behavior's early and to be consistent in the application of discipline. Let us take care of discipline at work whilst you focus on operations and growth.

The importance of a customised employment contract cannot be stressed enough. The employment contract and company policy should be designed by legal professionals to meet all your business requirements and to handle your sector and industry specific needs. This customisation of the employment contract and company policy happens within the broader labour law framework. Whilst a simple contract that satisfies a Labour inspection may sometimes suffice, a robust contract of employment and well thought through policies can be the deciding factor when it comes to legal penalties and unfavourable CCMA awards. Standard and basic contracts leave out many important clauses, we can help you protect your business with a comprehensive employment contract and custom company policies.

Retrenchments are never easy for any business; the emotional and financial stresses should be enough as a burden on the employer, but you also have to ensure the requirements of the retrenchment process are strictly adhered to. Failure to follow the correct procedure can result in the entire retrenchment process backfiring with severe financial costs. Thankfully you can outsource this important step to us. We have years of experience and expertise in labour law that allows us to guide you through this difficult process.

If you are having doubts about the fairness of your dismissal, give us a call so that we can sit down to discuss your situation. We will ask critical questions to determine if there area merits to challenging the decision or taking the matter further. Did the employer satisfy the prerequisites of procedural and substantive fairness during the hearing? Was the employer discriminating against you and how do you know? Perhaps the employer has been inconsistent in the application of discipline. Give Labour Specialists a call to setup a meeting.

Employees at times may be facing serious personal or work-based stress that can reduce the performance of the individual, the department and operations. Sometimes employees may cause disruptions to the workplace due to psychological, emotional or other stressors. Employees may be unwilling to discuss and resolve these issues with the employer or fellow colleagues at work due to various reasons. We have helped many employers find solutions to these complex issues and resolve them without impacting business operations. Our HR Consultants and legal advisors always maintain client confidentiality when dealing with sensitive matters.

Labour expertise is required from the recruitment phase of employment. The job description, employment contract, induction, working hours, remuneration structure and calculations, the types of leave and leave allowances accorded to employees, disciplinary processes, training sessions, health and safety, company policies etc must fall within the framework of the labour law. When employees are late for work due to protest action or take sick leave due to notifiable illnesses, we can provide the answers to questions and provide solutions to employers and employees.

Occupational Health and Safety inspections are increasing in frequency. Many businesses that have never been inspected for OHS compliance are now contacting us to assist with compliance. We conduct OHS audits and put together baseline activity based risk assessments for your business. Our OHS consultants will facilitate OHS meetings and conduct legal appointments. We will liaise and co-ordinate with the Department of Labour in order to reduce workplace disturbances and assist you with compliance.

Every employer must register and pay Unemployment Insurance for their employees with a few exceptional cases. Registering for or claiming from UIF can sometimes be extremely difficult due to errors in ownership details, business administration errors or uFiling system errors. Every month an employer must submit declarations with all employees’ details to the UIF. We are there for you to assist with these administrative black holes that can consume all your valuable time.

Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases or Workmen’s Compensation is a protection for employers against civil claims by their employees. Every employer must register with the fund and pay their annual assessment. This will cover an employer in the event of occupational injury or disease that results in temporary or permanent disability or death of an employee. We can assist with registration and submission of returns so that your business can acquire its Letter of Good Standing.

When an employee is injured at work, many questions must be asked and legal processes kick into action. The employer is required to drive all these processes, from the investigations and incident reporting to the application of first aid or contacting emergency services or submission of documents. Whose fault was it? Should this be reported to the police? How much do we pay an injured employee and for how long? How do we submit a claim? These are some of the questions we can answer whilst we guide you through the process of handling an IOD.

We understand well that recruitment of the right person for the job is a resource intensive task. The time and money required to find the right person wastes critical resources of the business that can be better focused. We ensure that the job description is appropriate and matches the skills whilst at the same time filters out incompetent individuals. Our team vets candidates and ensures that only the cream of the crop show up at your table for an interview