Workplace Harassment: It’s the Victim’s Perspective That Counts
“Sexual harassment is the most heinous conduct that plagues the workplace.” (Extract from the judgment below) Our courts have no tolerance for sexual harassment in the workplace, stressing that, at its core, it is concerned with power dynamics at work. A recent Labour Court decision has confirmed that in assessing whether or not an employee […]
Dismissed for Criticising a Mine’s “No High Heels in the Workplace” Rule
“The evil in this case is the wearing of high heels as opposed to flat shoes. It is a case that pits sartorial elegance against health and safety at the workplace” (Extract from judgment below) Employers have a general duty to ensure health and safety in the workplace. But as a recent Labour Court case […]
Dismissed: The Butcher Who Went To Work With COVID-19
In these times of deadly pandemic, both employees and their employers need to observe all workplace safety protocols to the letter. As the Labour Court recently pointed out, having fancy COVID-19 policies in place is meaningless if they aren’t strictly observed by everyone, and all the time. The Court was dealing with the case of […]
Workplace Bullying – Can You Claim Constructive Dismissal?
An employer may be tempted, when an employee resigns, to breathe a sigh of relief and think “great, I got rid of a problem without having to jump through all the hoops of a disciplinary enquiry/retrenchment process”. Not so fast! One of the protections our law provides to employees is the “constructive dismissal” concept, and […]