The importance of being an empathetic SME leader

For decades, IQ (intelligence quotient) was the ultimate sign of a competent employee and capable business leader. Today, in a climate characterised by uncertainty, rising economic pressure, changing social ideals and political turbulence, more businesses are...

Why equal opportunities are no longer enough

Even though things have changed, women still earn much less than men and are underrepresented in the workforce. In fact, just 25% of top management in the public and private sectors are women, according to a South Africa Women in Business Trends report and, according...

Engineering promotes sustainable development, empowers communities

The World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development tomorrow (4 March) has an impact on how engineering is perceived. This is the word from Elana Forbes, a structural engineer at infrastructure firm AECOM, who says: “It is extremely important to increase...

Restraints of trade and settlement agreements: a lesson for employers

According to a recent judgment from the Labour Appeal Court (LAC), when concluding settlement agreements with former employees, employers must actively preserve their rights to enforce restraint of trade undertakings, and other important protections. By Brett Abraham,...

Conflict costs SA companies billions and could stunt growth

In the wake of tighter budgets, and even potential layoffs, many businesses will be starting the year with restructured or entirely new teams. A big part of ensuring that they perform optimally will be identifying and de-escalating any workplace conflict. And, with...