McCarthy Attorneys Inc

Human Resources

When All Employees Are Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others – Justifiable Discrimination In The Workplace

When All Employees Are Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others – Justifiable Discrimination In The Workplace

If an employer does this because of any of the grounds listed in section 6(1) of the EEA (including gender, age, disability, religion etc.), it will automatically amount to unfair discrimination. If an employer does this because of any of the grounds listed in section 6(1) of the EEA (including gender, age, disability, religion etc.), it will automatically amount to unfair discrimination.

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POPIA, Employees And Employment Contracts

Employers will inevitably collect or already have personal information about their employees on file or stored electronically. With the Protection of Personal Information Act, No. 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) now in force, such employee information must be protected in their workplace just as it should be protected by other bodies who possess their personal information.  

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GETTING THE BOOT FOR YOUR LOOT: CAN AN EMPLOYEE BE DISMISSED FOR TAKING PART IN VIOLENCE OR LOOTING?

Getting The Boot For Your Loot: Can An Employee Be Dismissed For Taking Part In Violence Or Looting?

An employee’s conduct outside of their workplace and ordinary work hours is not subject to the control or authority of their employer. Ordinarily, facing disciplinary proceedings for one’s after-hours actions would not be considered “substantively fair”. Even arrest or criminal activity by an employee does not give an employer the automatic right of dismissal. The purpose of this Act is, among other things, “to create offences which have a bearing on cybercrime; to criminalise the disclosure of data messages which are harmful …” and creates mechanisms and procedures for determining and prosecuting the criminalised activities enumerated therein.

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Cybercrimes Act of 2020

The Cybercrimes Act: Eyes And Ears Are Everywhere

With the Cybercrimes Act of 2020 (the “Act”) recently being signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa now stands on par with similar global legislation dealing with cyber and electronic communications offences.

The purpose of this Act is, among other things, “to create offences which have a bearing on cybercrime; to criminalise the disclosure of data messages which are harmful …” and creates mechanisms and procedures for determining and prosecuting the criminalised activities enumerated therein.

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