Employment Law & HR Advisory

It covers the legal and practical management of your people - from hiring to termination and everything in between. This includes:

• Employment and contractor agreements
• Workplace policies and procedures
• Disciplinary, grievance and performance processes
• Retrenchments and restructuring
• Day-to-day HR guidance

We help you manage your team in a way that is compliant, fair and practical for your business.

We draft and review a wide range of agreements governing workplace relationships, including:

• Employment agreements (permanent, fixed-term and part-time)
• Independent contractor agreements
• Internship agreements
• Mutual separation agreements
• NDAs
• Performance and incentive agreements
• And other bespoke agreements tailored to your specific workforce structure

Each agreement is designed to ensure clarity, legal compliance and protection for both parties, while reflecting how your business actually operates.

The distinction is critical - and often misunderstood.

Employees:

• Are part of your organisation
• Are subject to labour laws and protections
• Work under your direction and control

Independent contractors:

• Operate as separate service providers
• Have more flexibility in how they work
• Are not entitled to the same statutory protections

Getting this wrong can create significant legal risk, including claims for unfair dismissal, benefits or tax exposure.

A properly drafted employment agreement sets out the terms and conditions of the working relationship, including:

• Roles and responsibilities
• Remuneration and benefits
• Working hours and leave
• Notice periods and termination
• Other bespoke employment arrangements tailored to your business and compliant with applicable labour laws

This ensures understanding, transparency and legal protection, helping to reduce uncertainty and avoid disputes.

Well-defined policies are essential to running a business effectively. They:

• Set clear expectations for employees
• Ensure consistency in how issues are handled
• Keep management accountable
• Support compliance with labour laws
• Help defend against employee claims

Without proper policies, businesses often struggle to manage issues fairly and consistently.

We assist with drafting and reviewing a wide range of policies, including, but not limited to:

• Disciplinary code and procedure
• Grievance policy
• Leave management policy
• Intellectual property policy
• Social media policy
• Occupational health & safety policy
• AI acceptable use policy
• Risk management and compliance-based policies
• Employee handbooks and induction manuals

We also provide guidance and training to ensure these policies are properly implemented in practice.

Yes. South African labour law requires strict processes to be followed when dealing with:

• Misconduct (disciplinary matters)
• Employee grievances
• Poor work performance (incapacity)

We guide you through these processes step-by-step to ensure they are procedurally fair and legally compliant, reducing the risk of disputes and CCMA or Labour Court action.

Yes. We can act as an independent and impartial chairperson and adjudicator for:

• Disciplinary hearings
• Grievance hearings
• Performance management hearings

This helps ensure fairness, proper procedure and defensible outcomes - particularly if a matter escalates to the CCMA or Labour Court.

Even if you have a valid reason, poor process can undermine your position entirely. This can result in:

• Unfair dismissal claims
• Reinstatement of employees
• Financial awards against your business
• Reputational damage

Following the correct process is just as important as the underlying issue itself.

Yes. Retrenchments must follow a strict legal consultation process in South Africa. We guide you through:

• The legal requirements
• Consultation procedures
• Documentation and communication
• Risk management

This ensures the process is fair, compliant and properly handled.

Absolutely. Many businesses already have documents in place, but they are often:

• Outdated
• Inconsistent
• Not aligned with current law
• Not practical to implement

We can review, update and align your documents so they are legally sound and workable in practice.

Ideally before taking action. Many employment issues escalate because:

• The wrong process is followed
• Documentation is missing
• Decisions are made too quickly

Getting advice early helps ensure the issue is handled properly from the outset, reducing risk and protecting your business.