Peter Dixon Consulting

14/04/2025

Item 8 of the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal, deals with probation.

An employer may require a newly hired employee to
serve a period of probation before the confirmation of the employee’s appointment. The purpose of probation is to establish whether or not the appointee’s performance is of an acceptable standard before permanently employing the employee. Probation is for newly appointed employees only.
A probationary period should be reasonable. The probationary period should be stated in writing and may be extended, within reason, where the employer is not convinced that the employee is performing to the required standard. If the period is extended, it should once again be done in writing. The purpose of the extension is to give such employee an opportunity to improve on the identified
shortcomings. Probation serves to identify performance problems before permanent employment is confirmed and to reasonably address these problems.

During the probationary period, performance of the employee should be assessed. If the employee fails to meet the required standards or displays behaviour that is incompatible with the ethos of the workplace, the employee should be advised of these shortcomings.This means that the employer should evaluate an employee during the probationary period and should provide regular feedback to him or her. An employer should give an employee on probation, reasonable
evaluation, instruction, training, guidance or counselling as
required by him/her in order to render satisfactory work.
Where performance problems continue despite such intervention, the employer may follow incapacity procedures.
It is not necessary to hold a formal inquiry. The rules of natural Justice will apply (e.g. when making representations the employee may be assisted by a fellow employee).
Only after considering all representations may the employee be dismissed or the probation period be extended. The finding should be made in writing. Where the probation period is extended, the employer needs to set out clear performance standards that the employee should meet during the specified period of time.

The Code of Good Practice for Poor Performance: Incapacity, does not apply to probationary employees.

14/04/2025

If the plan doesnt work, change the plan. Never change the goal. The most effective way to do it, is to just do it.

Progress has little to do with the speed, but more so the direction. Dont watch the clock, do what the clock does, it keeps going.

Stay positive, work hard and make it happen

16/11/2021

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/labour/2021-11-16-ccma-union-threatens-a-strike-as-budget-keeps-shrinking/

Talks break down at labour dispute organisation over an offer to increase wages just 1.5%

16/11/2021

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bvVYuNZ-Rzw&feature=share

CCMA Director, Adv Cameron Morajane says some employers have allegedly started firing or retrenching unvaccinated employees.Although, Covid-19 vaccines are n...

16/11/2021

https://www.702.co.za/articles/432316/ccma-receives-complaints-of-workers-dismissed-for-not-taking-covid-19-vaccine?ref=pid:93

Azania Mosaka speaks to Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration director Cameron Morajane about the cases before them.

05/11/2021

News24.com | Covid-19: Public sector employees may be forced to take the vaccine
https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/covid-19-public-sector-employees-may-be-forced-to-take-the-vaccine-20211028

If Covid-19 vaccination rates don't improve, government might make it mandatory for all public service employees.

News24, South Africa's premier news source, provides breaking news on national, world, Africa, sport, entertainment, technology & more.

05/11/2021

News24.com | Domestic worker salaries take centre stage as Ramaphosa woos women voters ahead of polls
https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/domestic-worker-salaries-take-centre-stage-as-ramaphosa-woos-women-voters-ahead-of-polls-20211028

In a bid to appeal to the biggest voter constituency, women, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said plans were afoot to ensure that the average salary for domestic workers will, by 2022, be equal to the national minimum wage.

News24, South Africa's premier news source, provides breaking news on national, world, Africa, sport, entertainment, technology & more.

21/10/2021

https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/530964/warning-over-new-private-security-laws-for-south-africa/

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Private Security Industry Regulation Amendment Act into law, introducing stricter regulations around South Africa’s private security sector.

21/10/2021

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) welcomes the end of the strike that has affected the metal and engineering sector in the past three weeks, SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Lucio Trentini said.

SEIFSA on behalf of its affiliated Associations and labour reached a landmark agreement on the is of awarding increases on a rand and cents amount calculated on scheduled rates, which was the major point of difference in the past few weeks.

"We are immensely pleased that the strike is finally over. It is now incumbent on all stakeholders in the metals and engineering sector to work collectively to rebuild and grow the sector. The sector has a very important role to play in the delivery of the Government’s ambitious economic recovery programme over the next few years, and that can happen only when a strong partnership exists between business and labour," Mr Trentini said.

The 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024 Settlement Agreement amends existing terms and conditions of employment of all employees covered by the Main Agreement and is in full and final settlement of wages and conditions of employment for the period of the agreement. Wages during the three year period will be adjusted on average by 5,49% with a general labourer receiving 6% and artisans 5% calculated on rand and cents on the scheduled rates.

We at SEIFSA thank each and every employer representative nominated by their respective Associations who gave unstintingly of their time to assist and play a crucially important role in the process.

We are immensely grateful to the SEIFSA Board, the SEIFSA Council, the Associations and each and every member appointed on the SEIFSA Negotiating Team. The three-year (2021 to 2024) Settlement Agreement is the fruit of their decisive and collective leadership.

15/10/2021

https://www.seifsa.co.za/article/category/wage-negotiations-updates/

11/10/2021

[BREAKING NEWS] President Cyril Ramaphosa declares Monday 1 November 2021, the date for local government elections, as a public holiday. For more, tune in to on

“[BREAKING NEWS] President Cyril Ramaphosa declares Monday 1 November 2021, the date for local government elections, as a public holiday. For more, tune in to on ”

11/10/2021

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/employee-dismissed-for-racist-rant-on-facebook-loses-court-bid-20211011

Irrelevant that the statement was made after hours or that employee was unaware of company’s social media policy.