The recent dismissal of a staff member at a daily newspaper in Johannesburg for making inappropriate comments on Twitter about the publication, poses new dilemmas for South African employers.

The question is whether employers can forbid their employees from disclosing their company’s identity on Facebook, Twitter or other social media profiles. Moreover, is it within the employer’s rights to discipline an employee who refuses to comply?

In both instances, the answer is no. Disciplinary action can […]

All employers, including nonprofit organizations, need to know when their employees can and cannot provide unpaid volunteer services to the organization. If an employer mistakenly accepts or receives “volunteer” services under the wrong circumstances, it could risk liability for a variety of claims arising under wage, tax, unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation laws.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), individuals who provide services without any expectation of compensation are “volunteers.” In enforcing the FLSA, […]