While the South African government is working on new sick leave rules during the Covid-19 epidemic, countless businesses from start-ups to corporate are faced with unprecedented challenges. Restaurants and bars have reduced business hours resulting in financial challenges, factory workers are laid off, domestic workers are told to stay at home, often without pay. The…Read more COVID-19: CAN I BE RETRENCHED, DISMISSED, DO I GET SICK LEAVE?
Conflict Prevention
Tools, ideas and approaches to prevent conflict at the workplace before it arises. Some conflict is necessary for growth, but most conflict can and should be prevented in order to establish and maintain a democratic and peaceful workplace.
The dangers of hiring an empath
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. It is not about managing faceless employees anymore, but self-directed individuals. It is not about just logic and structure anymore, but emotional intelligence. It is not about isolated offline processes anymore, but syncronised digital solutions. Individualism, emotionality and digitalisation are the driving forces of renewed organisational design. How does this affect…Read more The dangers of hiring an empath
Settling for peace: A way out for South Africa?
By guest author Adv. Lukas du Preez. We are currently being bombarded ad nauseam with almost nothing but bad news in South Africa: extreme poverty experienced by a great portion of our citizens; horrendous crime statistics; low economic growth; continued corruption; lack of political morals; and the list goes on. Unfortunately, the reality of much of…Read more Settling for peace: A way out for South Africa?
The dark side of peace: 9 ways to cope in conflict
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. Conflicts are great. Without conflict, there is no growth. Every conflict is an opportunity to get to know ourselves better. Are you in a battle with someone at work right now? Or have you just recovered from a fight with someone close to you? Peace is not about preventing conflict. It…Read more The dark side of peace: 9 ways to cope in conflict
Do you climb the mountain to be seen, or to see?
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. I’m sorry, are these numbers right? I’m not 100% sure, I hate numbers. One of the non-threatening leadership strategy tips for women, advertised in the latest The Cooper Review post. It got my blood boiling. Don’t take me wrong, I love their sarcastic sense of office humour – and as Holly…Read more Do you climb the mountain to be seen, or to see?
Retrenched. Now what?
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. Being retrenched sucks. Everything comes to an abrupt halt. I was retrenched myself in my previous life. And unemployed. And in-between jobs, waiting. And I volunteered. And I freelanced. And I started my own business. What I’ve learned is that whatever happens, you need to keep moving. Someone famous once said,…Read more Retrenched. Now what?
Striving for workplace transformation beyond lip-service
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. How do you define your workplace? Is it the desk you plonk down at every morning, or is it standing next to a patient in a hospital bed, or perhaps the booting up of industrial machine? As an employer, is it the space that your employees share, one that can clearly…Read more Striving for workplace transformation beyond lip-service
Is it smart to prevent conflict?
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. In 1987, the Kosovo conflict set off the disintegration of Yugoslavia. The former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia consisted of six republics whose borders were drawn along ethnic and historical lines after the Second World War: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia and Serbia. Serbia was further split into two…Read more Is it smart to prevent conflict?
What to do when change is slow, or doesn’t fit our own truth at work
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. Change is never easy - especially not if suggested by someone else, or if it's enforced through circumstances beyond your control. And change in the workplace is a challenge to itself. Employers may introduce changes to working conditions, structures and business models as a fait accompli. Employees often wish for certain…Read more What to do when change is slow, or doesn’t fit our own truth at work
Freelancers – independent or employed? Piercing the corporate veil
By Barbara du Preez-Ulmi. A-typical work relationships that are entered into are usually all sunshine - until expectations are not met, contracts are ended and the parties involved face a legal dispute. It is standard practice to either have an employee contract or an independent contractor's contract that sets out the terms and conditions of the…Read more Freelancers – independent or employed? Piercing the corporate veil
Labourflaws 