When businesses started using fax machines, it revolutionised the way documents were sent to clients and suppliers. Gone were the days of using costly courier or postage services to communicate. While most businesses still make use of fax machines, almost all office communication is done via email.
You might have heard media reports about the new “youth wage subsidy” that came into effect at the beginning of this year. Is this policy beneficial to business owners, and how can you implement it in your own company? Let’s find out more. Continue reading “How the Youth Employment Subsidy Works”
Since 2002, all domestic workers in South Africa who work more than 24 hours a month are legally entitle to be registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
If you have a housekeeper, nanny, gardener, or driver who works in and around your home, you’ll need to complete their registration with the UIF – here is a quick guide to speed up this important process. Continue reading “UIF – Are Your Domestic Helpers Registered?”
When it comes to family responsibility leave, South African labour law is quite clear: every full-time worker is entitled to leave when family emergencies occur.
If you’re wondering how much family responsibility leave your staff members are entitled to, or whether a staff member qualifies for this type of leave, read on – we’ve prepared a quick guide that explains this issue in detail. Continue reading “Family Responsibility Leave”
Every business owner would like to work with a happy, motivated, and hard-working team – but what do you do when a member of staff simply doesn’t cooperate?
Difficult employees can make things very unpleasant in the office environment, creating unnecessary tension with fellow team members and managers and even alienating clients and suppliers. Rudeness, poor work results, and a general lack of team spirit are just a few of the tell-tale signs of a difficult staff member – here are some solutions for managers and business owners who’ve reached the end of their tether with a problem employee. Continue reading “How To Mobilize Difficult Staff”
No matter how hard they try, some colleagues and team members just can’t seem to get along. From outbursts during meetings to email wars that can drag the entire office into a time-wasting state of tension, workplace conflict is one of the biggest obstacles to effective management.
If your business doesn’t have an HR specialist on the payroll, you don’t need to spend a fortune on consultants – here are some common-sense approaches you can take to resolving office conflicts. Continue reading “Dealing With Conflict at Work”
In our previous article we focused on the basic information and layout that you can use when you create a CV. Now let’s take a look at the different styles of CV that are most suitable for professionals in different industries. Whether you are an engineer, a technician, a business analyst, or any other type of professional, the type of work you do and your level of experience may call for a slightly different CV. Continue reading “How to Write an Industry-Specific CV”
Your CV is your calling card, and it’s the first impression of you that a prospective employer will have. If you send a CV that is messy, out of date, or inaccurate in any way, you could be compromising your chances of being considered for the job. On the other hand, a well-written CV will make a good impression on the business you would like to work for, paving the way for a job interview. Continue reading “A Well-Written CV – Why You Need One”
Small businesses, especially start-ups, often operate without an HR policy in place for the first months or even years of their lifespan – but is this a wise strategy?
Having an HR policy that is well-researched and written with the needs of the business and its staff in mind will allow even the smallest company to streamline its day-to-day running and avoid disputes with employees that are caused by a vague understanding of what is expected from each person. Continue reading “Creating an HR Policy”
Lacklustre employees are the bane of every dynamic entrepreneur. Arriving at the office with renewed energy for the day and ambitious plans that you need to put into action, the last thing you want to be faced with is a team of employees who act as if they’d rather be somewhere else.
As discouraging as this scenario sounds, it is faced by entrepreneurs all over the world on a daily basis – what can you do to hire and keep efficient and dynamic employees? Continue reading “How to Hire Super-Efficient Employees”