Overview

Dismissals and retrenchments are among the most sensitive and legally scrutinized employment actions. Ensuring fairness, compliance with the Labour Relations Act (LRA), and proper procedural conduct is essential to mitigate legal risk and preserve employee trust. This session provides practical guidance on conducting lawful and defensible dismissals and retrenchment processes, covering substantive and procedural requirements, risk management, and best practices.

Learning objectives

Attending this webinar will equip you with the following skills:

• Understand the legal framework governing fair dismissals and retrenchments in South Africa
• Apply procedural and substantive requirements for lawful terminations
• Manage retrenchment processes in a compliant, fair, and transparent manner
• Reduce legal and reputational risks associated with employment terminations

Content

The webinar will cover the following topics:

1. Legal Framework for Dismissals

• Overview of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) provisions
• Definition of fair vs. unfair dismissal
• Categories of dismissal: misconduct, incapacity, operational requirements

2. Procedural Fairness Requirements

• Conducting disciplinary hearings prior to dismissal
• Notice periods, opportunity to be heard, and right to representation
• Documentation and recordkeeping

3. Substantive Fairness in Dismissals

• Determining justifiable reasons for termination
• Assessing evidence, consistency, and proportionality
• Mitigating bias and conflict of interest

4. Retrenchment Processes

• Operational requirements and justification for retrenchment
• Consultation and engagement with employees and unions
• Selection criteria, alternatives to retrenchment, and severance packages
• Legal obligations for notice, compensation, and UIF

5. Risk Mitigation & Best Practices

• Avoiding procedural errors that lead to unfair dismissal claims
• Handling disputes and referrals to the CCMA
• Communication strategies to maintain employee relations

6. Case Studies & Practical Scenarios

• Reviewing common pitfalls in dismissal and retrenchment
• Analyzing successful compliance strategies
• Role-play exercises for hearings and consultations

7. Post-Dismissal/Retrenchment Considerations

• Handling appeals and grievance procedures
• Documentation for regulatory compliance and future reference
• Lessons learned for organizational policy improvement

About the presenter

Who should attend?

The following persons will benefit from attending this webinar:

• Attorneys.
• Corporate Legal Professionals.
• Legal Academics.
• Candidate attorneys.
• Law Students.
• Paralegals.

Price

• R 400.00 - Online admission - Individual.
• Group Price 1 - From R337 per person (up to 5 users)
• Group Price 2 - From R260 per person (up to 10 users)
• Group Price 3 - From R224 per person (over 11 users)

Steps to register for the event:

If you already have a profile, login and register for the webinar.

If you don’t have a profile, create a free profile then login and register for the webinar.

Click here to create a free profile (There is no charge to create a profile and gain access to our free Monthly Practice Management Series).

Click here to find out about the Technical Resource Centre & CPD Subscription options.

Additional material

By attending this webinar you will be provided with:

• A summarised slide presentation.
• Reference documents and/ or course material where available.
• You can ask questions during the webinar and you will also have access to the presenter after the webinar.

About SA Legal Academy

Welcome to SA Legal Academy (SALA), a provider of courses to help you succeed in your chosen career. We are committed to providing our students with the highest quality training and support, to ensure that your skills and knowledge are up to date and ready to face the challenges of the modern workplace. Our courses are designed to ensure that you reach your professional goals and enhance your career prospects. With our experienced training staff and comprehensive resources, you can be confident that you will receive the highest quality of training from SA Legal Academy.

SALA is a Level 2 B-BBEE contributor, with 125% procurement recognition. Training spend on certain solutions can be allocated against the Skills Development element of the B-BBEE Scorecard through accredited and nonaccredited training or claimed through SETA grants. In addition, 25% of your Skills Expenditure can be claimed on non-accredited training or courses.

Corporate Training Solutions

At SALA, we recognise the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic environment. Beyond our standard webinar offerings, we provide tailored corporate training solutions designed to empower your team with the latest in legal and professional skills. Whether you're looking for online sessions or face-to-face training, our programs are crafted to ensure a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.

Drawing inspiration from modern training methodologies, our corporate solutions are interactive, adaptable, and focused on real-world applications. We prioritize hands-on learning, ensuring your team can immediately apply their newfound knowledge in practical scenarios.

Interested in a bespoke corporate training experience? Reach out to us at [email protected] or call 012 941 0448. Together, let's design a training program that elevates your team's capabilities and aligns with your organizational goals.

Contact Us For More Information

Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today!

• Online chat through our website.
• Phone: +27 (0) 12 941 0448
• E-mail: [email protected]