Our enquiry this week comes from a reader who works for a company that has recently come under new management.

The company has always had a policy whereby staff may not accumulate more than thirty days of annual leave.

Some months ago, our reader verbally applied for leave with the area manager and was told that it could not be authorised. She enquired about the reasons and was informed that there was no one to assume her duties while she was away. Read more…

A reader, who wants to go for reconstructive surgery, contacted me recently regarding the sticky issue of sick leave. She works as an accountant at a large firm.

She says the reasons for her decision are both emotional and psychological. She is of the opinion that the procedure will improve her quality of life.

Her doctor said he would provide her with a medical certificate that will notify her employer that she will return to work after a 10-day recovery period. Read more…

When a company is sold or bought out by another company, it can cause untold stress and uncertainty if the employees are not kept informed.

I’ve received an e-mail from a concerned reader who manages a restaurant.

She recently found out that the owner – who resides in Britain and only visits South Africa twice a year – had put the restaurant in the market some months ago.

Due to the current economic climate, there has been very little interest so far. The restaurant is also in a poor location, which is not helping matters. Read more…

This week’s reader query comes from an employee who was caught in the middle of a bank robbery while performing one of her duties – the company banking.

She was waiting at the back of the queue when another man entered and fell in behind her. Moments later she heard what sounded like a gun being cocked.

Our reader turned around and saw another five armed, masked men entering the bank. At the same time, the man behind her started shooting rounds into the roof while ordering everyone to lie down and keep quiet. Read more…