SA law is clear about work and civil unrest

As a result of the civil unrest and public looting in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and elsewhere, employers may face one of the following three scenarios:

Employer has closed the workplace due to looting and/or damage to property

Employers have a general common law duty of care towards their employees. In addition, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) places an express obligation on them to maintain a working environment that is free from risk to the safety of employees as far as reasonably practicable.

While it is clear that the looting and unrest and the risks to employee safety are not related to the work being performed or caused by the operations, in severe circumstances protecting employees from risk may warrant the closure of some or all operations and requesting employees to stay away from work. Where employees are already at work they should be reminded of emergency procedures, evacuation routes and security protocols.

The duty to ensure a safe working environment does not, under statute, extend to employees’ travel to and from work in general, though in some circumstances it may fall within the employer’s control, such as employer-arranged and controlled transport, travel for business purposes or travel required within the course and scope of the employees’ work. In taking a broad and responsible approach, employers should factor this safety into the risk assessments and planning in severe circumstances, such as the civil unrest at a scale witnessed in recent days.

Given the scale of the current protests, unrest and high propensity for violence, employers may consider implementing business travel policies and guidelines that limit employees’ exposure to possible harm — and most importantly, as far as possible implement a policy of “self removal” if employees are reasonably concerned for their safety.

Employers may be able to apply the no-work-no-pay principle to their employees on the basis of supervening impossibility of performance (if the employer is prevented from performing in terms of the employment contract due to the civil unrest and public looting). Given the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the civil unrest and public looting, employers should consider alternatives. There may also be governmental assistance/relief (similar to the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme) for affected employees. 

The employer is obligated to ensure its premises are fixed, inspected and authorised in line with all the required legislation such as the National Building Regulations, applicable standards and by-laws before it may be occupied by employees and ready for operation.

Where workplaces require industry specific compliance with certain legislation, such as the major hazard installation regulations, employers must comply before allowing employees back to the premises.

Employer has closed the workplace as a precaution to protect the safety of employees and property

Employers may decide to close the workplace as a precautionary measure. Since this is an employer-driven decision, employers should continue to remunerate their employees in full for the period of the precautionary closure. If this is not possible, employers should consult with employees and agree with them on an appropriate alternative, which may include remote working/working from home, with no impact on remuneration; bringing forward annual leave or end-of-year shutdown leave; or a temporary reduction in pay.

Employer has not closed the workplace but employees are too scared to report for work 

The employer will need to carefully evaluate the circumstances, on a case-by-case basis, when an employee(s) does not report to work due to safety concerns. Employers will need to assess whether this refusal is reasonable. The OHSA permits employees to refuse to work if they believe that they are unsafe or endangered in the workplace.

If violence ensues at an employer’s premises during operating hours, emergency protocols must be invoked and the protection and safety of employees must be of paramount importance. Failure to take steps to respond to a known risk to employee safety in the workplace as far as possible, may amount to a breach of the OHSA and possible litigation.

In addition to the scenarios above, employers may also be required to deal with two further issues during this time: the dissemination by employees of inflammatory or false information via social media; and employees becoming involved in criminal acts relating to the civil unrest/public looting.

On both issues, even though we are in extraordinary circumstances, the usual employment law and health and safety considerations will apply. The employer must also have regard to its disciplinary code and procedure as well as its right to refuse work procedures or policies.

On dissemination of inflammatory or false information by employees on social media, the employer must carefully evaluate the conduct in terms of its social media policy. In both events, the employer must assess whether the conduct has an impact on the employer’s reputation/business and the employment relationship.

On employees involved in any criminal acts relating to the civil unrest and public looting, the employer must also carefully evaluate the impact of the conduct on the employer’s reputation/business and the employment relationship.

The authors are with Webber Wentzel.