The psychology of pay: Why employees stay or leave
In a country where economic uncertainty, inequality, and unemployment are daily realities, it is assumed that primarily money is what keeps South Africans in their jobs. But this is no longer the full picture. By Deon Smit, master reward specialist and SARA Exco...

Bridging the skills gap means reimagining education
As the world hurtles toward a more digital, automated and interconnected future, the question that should be on our minds as a nation is - “Are graduates being adequately prepared with the right skills to survive and thrive, now and in the future?” According to the...
Recognition and morale matter most for deskless workers
Only 49% of deskless workers feel recognised, writes Caroline van der Merwe, co-founder and chief product officer at Jem. Jem’s Deskless Worker Pulse found that nearly half of the 2 000 employees surveyed felt unappreciated by their employers. And a quarter of them...
How to (legally) make the most of this tax filing season
You know it’s tax season when there’s a rise in the old ‘death and taxes’ humour. But this year’s biggest clue has been the media hype around SARS’s artificial intelligence-driven tactics to enforce tax collections. However, fearmongering isn’t helpful, says Roxanna...
From Policy to People: How the Two-Pot System is Reshaping Retirement
Over the past year, the introduction of the Two-Pot Retirement System has sparked one of the most meaningful shifts we’ve seen in the South African retirement landscape. Rob Southey, head of asset consulting at Momentum Consultants & Actuaries, reflects on how it...
What do golden handshakes mean for employers and employees?
The moment arrives unexpectedly: a private meeting, a quiet conversation, a generous offer to depart. The “golden handshake” – a so-called severance package exceeding statutory minimums – promises a smooth exit. Yet, beneath the allure of immediate financial relief...

SA needs a performance-driven culture
Some consider South Africa's labour laws to be extremely stringent, but even those that believe the levels of protection offered to employees are good argue that certain aspects of the laws need to be relaxed to promote economic growth while still addressing...
More young people see agriculture as a preferred career choice
South African youth are increasingly pursuing agriculture as a preferred career choice – not out of necessity but as a potentially lucrative path to earning a decent living while also contributing to the country’s crucial food production value chain. By Sydney Soundy,...

How to stop ghost employees from haunting your payroll and HR
If something strange seems to be going on in your payroll and HR department and your company’s profits are vanishing into thin air, chances are you have ghost employees draining your bottom line. The presence of ghost employees on a company’s payroll system ranks as...

What’s the role of payroll and HR platform in hybrid working?
Remote work (often abbreviated as WFH for work from home) is becoming culturally ingrained, even though there is pushback through return to office (RTO) mandates. A recent poll from the Global Payroll Association (GPA) reveals that three-quarters of people would turn...
Lessons learned from providing 2m people with AI skills
An AI-skilled workforce is no longer a luxury - it’s a necessity. Yet, a massive skills gap is a roadblock to many organisations' efforts to implement AI technologies. By Maureen Lonergan, vice-president: enablement for international expansion at Amazon Web Services...
Salary increase season – what’s realistic and what’s not
For many South Africans that are formally employed in both the government and private sectors, mid-year marks a pivotal time for mid-year salary reviews and potential raises. It is a time brimming with anticipation and hope, as employees look forward to some financial...