Image: ReutersLabour expert, Osborne Molatudi says rolling blackouts are forcing South African companies to reverse the work-from-home trend that many resorted to during the COVID-19 pandemic.However, severe rolling blackouts are making it difficult for employees to be productive at home.Molatudi says unlike the rest of the world, South Africa may see a more permanent return to the office in 2023 .
He says, “On the basis of the practical challenges that are faced by many employees country-wide because of load shedding and other related factors, an employer would be perfectly within his/her right to require that employees return to the office full-time.” “In some instances, the employer may engage with employees to form some sort of working committee, to assess whether there is a need to return to office full-time or perhaps do it by way of hybrid. But, as matters stand, any employee would be well advised not ignore the employer’s instruction to return to the office full-time, unless that employee has valid reasons not to do so,” Molatudi adds.
I used to truly believe that living in Gaborone as I do was a great privilege, in that if I desired it, I could be in in the ' first world' by driving to Johannesburg which is only 360 kms away. Unfortunately I can no longer make that claim. Joburg is a darkcity.
Only to be stuck in traffic jams caused by the power failures…