by Ivan Israelstam | Jul 25, 2019 | CCMA, Employees, Labour Law, Labour Law for Employers, Labour Relations Act
Making unsupported allegations of unfairness against employers can be costly. This is partly because the CCMA, Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court and bargaining councils deal with approximately 180 000 cases per year and do not have time to waste on dealing with false...
by Ivan Israelstam | Jul 25, 2019 | CCMA, Disciplinary Hearing, Discipline Costs, Labour Law
Some time ago I was asked by an employer to assist with preparing for a Labour Court review case. The employer had dismissed the employee for theft but the CCMA had forced the employer to reinstate him. I was puzzled by the CCMA’s decision because, on discussing the...
by Ivan Israelstam | Jun 13, 2019 | #UnfairTreatment, CCMA, Employees, Labour Law, Labour Relations Act, Unfair Dismissals
The lodging of complaints by staff cannot be used as grounds for alleging incompatibility or dismissing employees. In the case of Jabari vs Telkom SA (Pty) Ltd (2006, 10 BLLR 924) the Labour Court, in explaining the nature of workplace incompatibility, highlighted...
by Ivan Israelstam | Jun 7, 2019 | Employees, Labour Law, Labour Law for Employers, Labour Relations Act, Labour Unions South Africa
It is inherent in the nature of employment relationships that, as the employer is paying the employee for his services, he/she is obliged to be loyal to the employer and to devote his/her efforts to the interests of the employer. The employee should, therefore, carry...
by Ivan Israelstam | May 23, 2019 | #UnfairTreatment, Employees, Labour Law, Labour Relations Act, Unfair Dismissals
It seems obvious to employers that, if an employee is arrested by the police he has ‘dismissed himself’. However, this mistaken belief is born from wishful thinking. Reasons for such wishful thinking may include: The employer fears having a criminal at the workplace...
by Ivan Israelstam | May 2, 2019 | Labour Law, Labour Relations Act
Cross examination is used universally in courts and tribunals and gives an accused the opportunity to challenge his/her accusers. However, it is contentious as to whether an accused employee at a disciplinary hearing has the right to cross examine evidence brought...
