We are, from our side, doing our best to keep you informed regarding the impact of the current lockdown and expected extended restrictions during the next few months. It is difficult to keep up with all the legislative changes relating to employment and business
– and there are lots of room for ambiguous interpretations – but we are all in the same boat, so we’ll figure this out together!
In our previous newsflash we alerted you to the Amendments to the Covid19-TERS Regulations on 8 April, which provided much clarity about this benefit option and a broader basis for applications. We however still received many questions about the practical applications
thereof and although everything is not entirely clear yet, the UIF did introduce revised MOA-documents in response to these Amendments: there are 4 different agreements, depending on the role of the applicant party (employer or bargaining council).
We have once again updated our online BOOKLET detailing the
various UIF benefit options, to also reflect these changes – focusing mainly on the MOA for employers (MOA “A”). These updates are indicated in blue in the booklet. If you have ‘installed’ the Booklet previously, just clicking on the booklet-icon on your desktop should automatically open the revised version (you will not be able to install it a second time without first uninstalling it.) Otherwise, just follow the link above to access it.
We hope this answers most of the questions you still had. We will keep updating this online booklet if there are further changes, and let you know.
Managing in the time of Covid-19
The current Covid-19 experience has been likened to a state of war by many people. Little wonder then that the acronym “VUCA” has also found application in this time – a concept introduced by the US
Army War College to describe the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous multilateral world perceived as resulting from the end of the Cold War.
So – how does one lead and plan strategically when responsible for a team, organisation, or business, when there is no playbook for what to do in the face of a 21st Century
pandemic? We are all facing threats on multiple fronts at once: our own health and well-being, that of our family, employees, customers, suppliers, business partners, as well as the stability and sustainability of governance and of the economy at large.
“Be flexible, be adaptive, and be willing to make difficult choices.”
This is the advice of Mark Nevins in a recent Forbes article. He provides some excellent insights with pragmatic pointers and it is worthwhile to read the full article.
In summary:
Educate yourself – beyond watching the news and the melodrama.
Recognise that everywhere, things are changing on a daily or even hourly basis.
Anchor everything in what’s most important: the safety of everyone you are responsible for. Ensure that you have clear business protocols and expectations in place and fine-tune them as
necessary.
Build a clear plan for your organisation – think strategically, conduct scenario planning – plans B, C, and D – and be willing to adapt quickly.
Leverage your team – bring them together to ensure alignment on plans, priorities, and contingencies.
Over-invest in communication, but be judicious in your formal communication to the whole organisation / relevant community.
Find new ways to create connections.
Be authentic – don’t forget why people have come to trust and follow you, and tap into your natural persona to create calm and focus.
Most of all, manage yourself – you’re only human and get stressed like everyone else Don’t let yourself get to the end of your rope.
See this COVID-19 crisis as a defining moment for yourself and your organisation. Step up and lead accordingly – your employees (and customers) will remember for a long time how they were
treated during this crisis.
Covid-19 SMARTLIST and Remote Work
Remember that you can get fast, trusted and relevant information on employment, and other legal- and labour
law issues around the Covid-19 situation in South Africa from our Covid-19 SMARTLIST–
we add to this on a daily basis.
Stay safe and follow us on Social Media to stay updated!
