Beaumont’s Workshops
Beyond the Recession – A new ball game to retain and manage employees?

As the economy continues to improve it is expected that turnover of employees will increase – dramatically.  This may not be inevitable – provided that employees are correctly and properly treated; even if this means that some employees (like rising stars and new generation recruits) are handled differently and selectively. Also, as more women enter the world of work, employers may be called upon to tailor practices to remove barriers to employment and advancement. In turn, this can result in different treatment for some employees.

Equality and fair treatment of all employees call for standardisation and consistency. How will employers rise to the challenges of varied treatment of employees and still remain within the law? What are the hidden dangers?  Are there risks of committing unfair labour practices, or worse?  How can these risks be avoided?

The next series in Beaumont’s Workshops will explain how and what employers can do with fresh employment policies/practices and flexibility in the workplace to accommodate age and gender profiles and to retain key/emerging talent. 

Beaumont’s Workshops bring you strategic insights on employment/labour relations combined with reference to statutes and the latest case law/trends.

The content will cover strategic imperatives and examine key issues around the attraction, development and retention of key talent and special groups.

Strategic / operational parameters

Belt-tightening in recent years has negatively affected employees’ commitment. Staff turnover has been muted because of scarcity of jobs and not because employers have got it right.

What can employers do to regain the lost commitment before it is too late? What is key talent looking for? What will employers need to do, to accommodate special interest groups such as women and young persons?

Business efficiency and belt-tightening may have been pushed at the expense of people practices.  Employers may now want to recover lost ground; in turn there might be legal questions on:

• Cancelling/deferring bonus payments?
• Freezing benefits for some but not all?
• Requiring employees to do more and different things?
• Dashed expectations of accelerated development with training cut-backs?
• Multiple small retrenchments instead of a big-bang approach?

Attract

Employers will be searching for the right talent. Legal questions include:

• When is it obligatory to recall retrenchees?
• Can retirements be postponed even if this blocks vacancies?
• Must talent be sourced in terms of EE Plan?
• What is meant by reasonable progress for EE purposes?
• When is headhunting (rather than publicly advertised vacancies) in order?
• Can signing-on payments be offered selectively?
• Can selective undertakings be given on job security?

Develop

Personal growth and development are most important needs of generations Y and X.  Building this talent involves the following legal questions:

• Can employees be called on to work off training costs?
• How to fairly select talent for training?
• Does management have the discretion to create succession/leadership pipeline?
• Can key talent be made to perform different tasks/assignment?
• What pitfalls exist with performance management of key talent?
• How to handle premature promotion?
• When must an employer support an appointment with coaching?

Retain

Keeping talent – what are the risks under unfair labour practices or EEA if:

• Unilateral increases are awarded to some?
• Retention bonuses are paid to some?
• Remuneration of key talent is increased?
• Best performers receive special treatment?
• Flexibility in working conditions is allowed based on age/gender?
• Additional leave or some benefit is traded for an increase?

Programme for Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane and Bloemfontein
07h45 Registration
08h30 First session
10h30 Tea
11h00 Second Session
13h00 Close

Programme for Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg
08h00 Registration
09h00 First session
11h00 Tea
11h30 Second Session
13h30 Close

Dates and venues
12 October 2010 – Johannesburg, Glenhove Conferencing (011-422 3601)
27 October 2010 – Durban, Elangeni Hotel (031-362 1300)
28 October 2010 – Port Elizabeth, Summerstrand Hotel (041-583 3131)
29 October 2010 – Cape Town, The Lord Charles Hotel (021-855 1040)
08 November 2010 - Bloemfontein, Windmill Conference Centre (051-410 2078)
15 November 2010 - Polokwane, The Ranch Hotel (015-290 5000)
22 November 2010 - White River, Greenway Woods Resort (013-751 1094)

The Fees (VAT Inclusive) 
There is no charge for the first two delegates from all Beaumont’s Service Subscriptions.
Subscriber guests – R750.00
Non-subscribers – R1750.00 per delegate
Chamber of Business members – R1500.00 per delegate (must quote the membership number)