Human Resource

Really think about it. What would your answer be? Would you fall into the 40% of global CEOs who, according to professional services giant PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey, doubt their companies will still exist in the next decade? If the answer is yes, ask yourself why. Now ask yourself: “Are the people in my company happy?”

As South Africa celebrates Freedom Day, marking the historic 1994 democratic elections that ended apartheid, I find myself reflecting on what this day means for my generation.

A severe shortage of skilled labour is undermining construction across Africa, with South Africa among the hardest hit. In a 2024 report, the International Labour Organization (ILO) identified the skills gap as a major contributor to substandard construction work and escalating project costs.

The war for talent is raging, and South African companies are facing a stark choice: transform the office into a must-visit destination or watch their best people want to stay home. 

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, IT departments must balance innovation with stability. Change management—the process of planning, implementing, and monitoring changes to IT systems—is vital to avoid disruptions, security breaches, and downtime.

With AI automating routine HR tasks like CV screening, skills assessments, and employee engagement tracking, Human Resources (HR) professionals need new skills, including data literacy and digital fluency, says Sheryll Kisten, Head: Human Resources at STADIO Higher Education. While this may seem daunting, it also creates new career opportunities.

As the global economy continues to limp along, a new trend has arisen whereby companies engage in a tactic called “quiet firing” in order to reduce the size of the workforce without having to pay severance packages.

Businesses across industries are always seeking innovative ways to stay ahead of their competitors and drive long-term success. The hospitality industry, known for its customer-centric approach and operational excellence, offers valuable lessons applicable to any business sector, as well as for individuals seeking to set themselves apart in a crowded jobs marketplace, an expert says.

The rapid integration and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across various industries and sectors is transforming the way businesses operate, driving efficiency, innovation and cost savings and with its prolific progress. 

Funding is a critical contributor, but without the committed people, the NPO sector would not be the engine of civil society we see today. These were the words of Feryal Domingo, Acting Executive Director of Inyathelo, the South African Institute for Advancement, addressing a full house of NGO representatives who gathered at the Inyathelo Civil Society Sustainability Hub in Woodstock to commemorate World NGO Day on 27 February 2025.

There are huge advantages to be gained by building your own professional network early in life. However, most graduates are not fully aware of the benefits of making contact with a vast number of people working in their industry. Nor are they knowledgeable about how to go about creating a significant professional network.

International Women's Day (IWD), 08 March 2025, resonates through history as a beacon and a call to arms for the worldwide fight for women's rights and gender equality. However, when we delve into the layers of this celebration, the specific obstacles encountered by South African women, particularly Black women, come to light.

Workplace toxicity is more than just a human resources issue—it’s a direct threat to organisational performance and profitability. Absenteeism linked to workplace depression already costs the South African economy R19 billion annually. Employees aren’t just leaving toxic environments—they’re also disengaging while they stay, dragging down productivity and innovation.

A company’s growth and success are inextricably linked to its employees. They are the heartbeat of any organisation – driving innovation, productivity and prosperity. It’s no wonder therefore, that many businesses view their workforce as “human capital” – an indispensable asset that shapes the future of the enterprise.

Global surveys across nearly 9,000 emerging leaders and their direct reports show that approximately 1 in 5 direct reports contemplate quitting because of their new leader’s ineffectiveness. And roughly 1 in 4 emerging leaders regret accepting their new leadership role.

Generation Z, born between 1996 and 2012, is poised to make up one-third of the global workforce by 2030, ushering in a new era of challenges and opportunities for employers. A new global white paper by ManpowerGroup, The Future of Generation Z is in Employers’ Hands, reveals the pressing need for businesses to adapt their workplace strategies to attract and retain this generation of purpose-driven, tech-savvy employees.

In the current context of economic turmoil where fear of retrenchments looms large, many employees feel compelled to be available and performing at all times – even when on leave – and this ongoing blurring of boundaries has led, globally, to the introduction of policies and even legislation to address employees’ rights to disconnect completely during their time off.

When it comes to socio-economic development, 2025 is a year full of possibility for South Africa as it breaks new ground by taking on the presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) forum. This is the first time that an African country has gained the G20 presidency and will host the annual summit, taking place in Johannesburg in November 2025. While chiefly an economic forum, the G20 focuses a powerful lens on situating global economics in social, developmental and environmental sustainability contexts.

With the rise of AI and the relentless pace of modern technology, life is becoming faster, more digital, and ironically – more isolating. As human interactions are increasingly replaced by screens and algorithms the need for genuine, meaningful connection has never been more urgent. But in a world racing toward automation, could the simple act of serving others be the key to restoring our sense of belonging?
 

The pace of change in the workplace is accelerating at an unmatched rate. To thrive in this competitive environment, companies must prioritise learning (and the ease of accessing learning) and elevate this function to the forefront of their strategy. This is especially true given the rapid advancements in AI and technology.