As South Africa prepares to mark Workers’ Day on May 1, governance, risk, and compliance Sandton-based specialist Kovini Moodley is calling for urgent action to protect employees from workplace bullying, intimidation, and unfair disciplinary practices.

Moodley, a chartered accountant and social impact advocate, said many organisations have strong workplace policies on paper, but those policies often fail employees when it matters most.

Read more: Workers Day Where does it come from?

“In many cases, the problem is not the policy itself, but the misalignment between policy and implementation. When leadership does not enforce the rules consistently, employees are left vulnerable.”

She warned that disciplinary processes, which are meant to correct behaviour and ensure fairness, are sometimes used to push employees out of organisations. According to Moodley, this practice can create fear and silence workers who raise legitimate concerns.

“In toxic workplaces, employees who speak up about ethical issues may face retaliation, exclusion, or sudden disciplinary action months later. That is what we refer to as the weaponisation of disciplinary processes.”

@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Kovini Moodley, a GRC expert and social impact changemaker, shares her best advice on raising misconduct issues, especially in organisations where the environment is toxic in nature, culture is poor, and the tone at the top does not value transparency and ethical leadership. Video: Duduzile Khumalo #Sandton #GRC ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Moodley believes psychological safety remains a major concern across many workplaces, including small businesses and community organisations. She described the issue as widespread but often hidden because employees fear losing their jobs.

“People are afraid to speak openly, especially in a difficult job market. Many choose to suffer in silence rather than risk unemployment.”

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She encouraged workers to learn their labour rights and seek legal advice early if they suspect unfair treatment.

“Do not ignore warning signs. If communication changes suddenly, if you are excluded from meetings, or if deadlines become unrealistic, those may be indicators of a problem.”

Moodley also linked workplace culture to broader social issues such as gender-based violence, noting that power imbalances in leadership can lead to harassment and abuse of authority.

She urged employers to take proactive steps to build safe working environments, including responding quickly to complaints, protecting whistleblowers, and strengthening internal governance systems.

“Employers have a legal and ethical duty to ensure workplaces are safe, not only physically but mentally and emotionally,” she said.

As Workers’ Day approaches, Moodley hopes the national conversation will expand beyond wages and working conditions to include dignity, respect, and accountability in the workplace.

“The fight for workers’ rights did not end in the past. It continues today in offices, factories, and institutions across the country.”

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