Sonja Vorster
It is an absolute operational necessity for companies/employers to invest in Labour Law training of line-managers and supervisors. If you, as an employer, thinks or argues, that there is no time or money, especially for, Industrial Relations training you are, with respect, being very short-sighted.
It is a never-ending source of amazement to me that employers are not prepared to spend a few Rands on training, but do not mind taking the risk of having to spend thousands of Rands when having to go to the CCMA, Bargaining Councils or Labour Court.
Training yourself and your supervisors may be a financial expense initially, but in the long run it is not only an investment into your company but you will have happy and productive employees.
A dispute starts on the shop floor level. It is not only when a supervisor, mishandles a grievance or disciplinary matter, which could result in an employee being unfairly dismissed. It already roots itself when staff placed in authority over others do not understand the basic principles of corrective and progressive discipline. Employers often lose potentially good employees at great cost, whereas proper training could have avoided the whole mess.
Training must be offered in such a way that the line managers see it as a tool towards success, it must be presented in a fresh and stimulating way. Use a professionally trained labour advisor to help you.
Employees who observe that their bosses know what they are doing when it comes to discipline and performance correction, respect their bosses and seldom step out of line.
If you as an employer have the viewpoint that management is under ‘too much pressure to waste time on training or correct HR/IR policies’ then you will find that it is a matter of time when, you will be facing a costly dispute and more importantly unhappy employees. Unhappy employees are very costly. It is not what you see on your bottom-line, it is what you do not see. Employers, get your house in order! It is never too late to start. Knowledge is the key to success.
