Description:
Role overview: The Industrial Relations (IR) Officer is responsible for maintaining workplace discipline and ensuring compliance with labour legislation, company policies, and procedures. The role focuses on managing abscondment cases, verifying sick leave documentation, drafting disciplinary warnings, and co-ordinating disciplinary hearings in a fair, consistent, and legally compliant manner.
Minimum requirements:
- LLB or Industrial Relations Degree
- Own reliable transport
- Minimum 3+ years experience in a large corporate environment (staff complement of 4000+), with proven experience in sectors such as logistics, warehousing, transportation, manufacturing, or FMCG.
Skills required:
- Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) clear, professional, and adaptable to different audiences.
- Strong interpersonal skills ability to build trust, manage conflict, and maintain professional relationships.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) for documentation, reporting, and communication.
- Analytical and investigative skills ability to verify information, assess evidence, and identify inconsistencies.
- Organisational and time management skills managing multiple cases, hearings, and reports simultaneously.
- Conflict resolution skills supporting consultations and disciplinary hearings effectively.
- Adaptability and resilience managing challenging employee relations cases under pressure.
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of labour legislation and statutory compliance (BCEA, LRA, OHSA, and sectoral determinations).
- Knowledge of absconding procedures and employee follow-up protocols.
- Knowledge of documentation processes for abscondment, hearings, and dismissals.
- Knowledge of medical verification processes, including HPCSA database checks and practitioner validation.
- Knowledge of drafting disciplinary warnings, and record-keeping requirements.
- Knowledge of disciplinary hearing procedures, including charge sheet preparation and minute- taking.
- Knowledge of counselling and consultation processes for absenteeism, poor timekeeping, and related IR matters.
Key responsibilities:
Abscondment Management:
Track and follow up on absconding employees.
Maintain and update abscondment reports.
Issue telegrams and dismissal documentation.
Sick Note Verification:
Verify medical practitioner details via HPCSA | Investigate sick leave abuse.
Disciplinary Hearings and Warnings:
Draft warnings and charge sheets | Co-ordinate and record hearings.
Issue outcomes and dismissal letters.
IR Consultations and CCMA Support:
Conduct counselling sessions | IR Assist with CCMA and statutory council matters.
CCMA and NBCRFLI:
Assist IR management with compiling of council packs for conciliation