When employees and employers are unsure about their rights and obligations, they don’t turn to a lawyer or an HR manual; they turn to Google. Search trends from 2025 show a consistent theme: confusion. Confusion about leave, pay, dismissals, probation, retrenchments, and fairness. These aren’t abstract legal questions. They are real issues affecting livelihoods, businesses, [...]
The Constitutional Court may have rewritten South Africa’s parental leave framework in 2025, but the real constitutional moment did not happen in court. It happened quietly, in HR offices, management meetings, WhatsApp family groups, and at kitchen tables across the country. On paper, the Van Wyk judgment is a triumph of equality. In practice, it [...]
As we welcome the dawn of the 2026 business year, we do so with a deep sense of appreciation, pride and renewed commitment to the members of the Consolidated Employers Organisations. The year 2025 was both demanding and defining. In an increasingly complex labour relations environment, our collective resolve was tested daily. Through it all, [...]
The use of mutual settlement or separation agreements to end employment relationships in South Africa is increasingly common, especially where there are disputes, strained relationships, or impending retrenchments. On paper, these agreements enable a “clean break” without the risk and cost of protracted litigation. But in practice, as the jurisprudence, including EHCWAWU o.b.o. Tshabalala and [...]
As we reflect on the year that draws to a close, one word continues to surface above all else: gratitude. Gratitude for the privilege of remaining viable in a demanding economic climate, for the ability to safeguard the wellbeing of our organisation and our staff, and for the opportunity to continue serving our members with [...]
At Consolidated Employers Organisation (CEO), we understand that the year-end period can be one of the most challenging times for employers. With the festive season just around the corner and the allure of some much-needed downtime beckoning, most employers will be focused on closing projects and planning for the year ahead. While we all look [...]
Understanding that the workplace extends beyond the office The month of December is the bedrock of South Africa’s festive season, and most year-end functions are the highlight of the corporate social calendar before companies close for their shutdown. Such events allow employees to unwind and transition into a well-deserved break. However, the relaxed, vibey setting [...]
Demarcation is not a term commonly heard in everyday conversation, yet it can be beneficial to businesses if it applies to them. The purpose of this article is to provide a simple understanding of what a demarcation dispute entails and how such a dispute is handled. This is important because a demarcation dispute differs significantly [...]
How far must an employer go to ensure procedural fairness? That question has long haunted disciplinary proceedings, especially when the accused employee is a shop steward. In a recent Labour Court decision, SAMWU obo Mvinjelwa v City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality & Others (JR1131/2017) [2025] ZALCJHB 476, the Court provided timely clarity: fairness must be [...]
In South Africa, the use of alcohol and the right to a safe working environment are regulated in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHSA). This Act places a significant duty on employers to maintain a safe and healthy working environment, which prohibits employees from being under the influence of [...]