Retrenchments & Restructuring

South African employers continue to find themselves in the CCMA and Labour Court defending restructuring decisions that were rushed, poorly documented, or procedurally flawed. In 2026 — with tighter enforcement, expanded definitions of “employee”, and increased protection for non‑standard workers — organisations cannot afford missteps.

When companies are already navigating financial pressure, one procedural error can result in reinstatement orders, costly compensation, reputational damage, and long‑term operational disruption.

Join labour law expert Angus Bailie for a practical, up‑to‑date session on how to manage Restructuring and Retrenchments lawfully, transparently, and strategically in 2026.

What Angus will cover

He’ll unpack the questions employers and HR teams are grappling with right now:

• What does “restructuring” mean in 2026 — and what does it not mean?
• On what grounds can an employer lawfully retrench?
• What is the correct, compliant procedure under the Labour Relations Act?
• How do voluntary retrenchments work, and when are they appropriate?
• Is there a difference between redundancy and retrenchment?
• How is severance pay calculated, and when must it be paid?
• How much information must be disclosed to employees and unions?
• What role do Trade Unions play — and how far does their involvement extend?
• How do Business Rescue, insolvency, or financial distress affect the process and employee rights?
• What are the 2026 risks employers face if the process is mishandled?

This session is designed to give employers, HR professionals, and managers the clarity they need to make difficult decisions without exposing the organisation to avoidable legal risk.

MORE ABOUT ANGUS:

We love hosting webinars with Angus — he brings a rare blend of deep expertise, practical insight, and a wonderfully dry sense of humour that keeps even the toughest topics engaging.

Angus is an admitted attorney with over 20 years’ experience, including more than a decade running his own labour‑law practice. He has served as an Acting Judge in the Labour Court, lectured part‑time, and is a SETA‑accredited facilitator and trainer. His ability to translate complex legislation into clear, actionable guidance makes his sessions consistently high‑value and highly rated.