Devan Moonsamy

South Africans are panicking as the number of people who are affected by the coronavirus escalates. Over the past few day’s stores have seen an influx of shopper’s panic buying. But with the frenzy taking over the country, employers have been faced with a tougher decision on how to handle the workplace as the number of infected South Africans grows day by day.

Schools were closed earlier leaving parents concerned about day care facilities for their kids. In light of this many companies asked employees not to bring their kids to work in this time to keep up with the governments request of limiting exposure.

If you are a business, currently concerned about the consequences the coronavirus will have on your business then you should have a plan of action in place.

We understand that the new regulations in light of the outbreak specifies a limit or gathering of no more than 100 people. However, we have more than 100 employed in our organisation.

So, what should I do to limit the contact between staff?

The first step would be to allow for employees to work from home. Companies that do not micromanage already feel comfortable with the idea. For those few who still feel differently about employees working from home we should educate ourselves about the benefits it has to the organisation.

This option will allow parents to work from home and take care of their kids. This means they will not need to take time off. This also ensures they will meet deadlines and address queries without having to be in contact with people in the office.

For those who have been given the green light to work from home and this being the first time, below are a few tips on how to ensure you are productive.

• Start with a routine. If on a daily basis your routine is wake up, exercise and then shower and do breakfast, stick to that. Maybe if exercise was at the gym we could opt for home exercise. Keeping to a routine will ensure you are productive through the day.

• Set rules. When working from home it is important to inform your loved ones that this is your space and when you are in it you should not be disturbed. This will allow you to meet your deadlines without being interrupted.

• Take breaks as you would at work. If your one-hour lunch is from 12pm till 1pm stick to that. Use that time to eat and focus on you. It doesn’t mean now that you are working from that you need to start spring cleaning.

• As much as being home means you can whip up a meal whenever you can it is important to remember that you are still working. This being said allow yourself time to meal prep the day before. This way you won’t spend the day eating excessively.

• Avoid working in your pjs. When you change out of your pjs you tend to feel a lot more motivated to finish a task. If you are working in your pjs chances are you will feel lazy and want to take many more breaks.

• Working from home can also feel a bit lonely. To avoid the loneliness contact work colleagues regularly. Use WhatsApp or skype but ensure you check up on them to ensure you don’t get FOMO.

In closing working from home is a blessing especially with kids. If you are given this opportunity ensure that you do not abuse it. Your company trusts you. The responsibility is on you to ensure you produce results. After all you will be accountable for your duties.

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute. ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za | devan-moonsamy.com

Devan Moonsamy

March is human rights month. However, the awareness on the month has been shadowed by the coronavirus which has been dominating the news front. Regardless of the pandemic we should take time to acknowledge this extremely important day on the South African calendar. Human Rights Day is observed annually on the 21^st of March. It is to commemorate the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in which 69 people were killed while protesting apartheid pass laws. Today the Bill of rights has been enriched in our constitution protecting South Africans from Human rights infringements.

Human rights are essential in the world we live in. We are a democratic country and it is imperative that our human rights are not infringed upon.

Now while there are many companies in South Africa that reward employees there are still those that have blurred lines between unfair practises and human rights infringements.

At the top of the list is remuneration. Employees must be adequately paid for their skills sets. In the year 2020 however, it is still sad to note that females are still victims of the gender wage gap. This does not just cause tension in the work place but also ensures that no steps are taken to address gender equality in the work place.

Another common misdemeanour is the workplace is the employing of foreign nationals and classifying this as ‘cheap labour’. Some companies know that someone who is desperate will agree to a less than minimum wage and as a result we exploit their services. This is both unethical and unfair. We need to move away from this thinking. People should be paid in accordance to their skills sets and knowledge of a task.

Employers are also guilty of micro managing. This concept is one that reflects on the lack of trust in employees. as much as businesses are determined to make a profit there is often micro management that gets in the way of employee’s bringing their best to the work place.

There needs to be trust. If we trust our employees and make them feel valued, we will in turn see working environments that are conducive and less unenthusiastic.

Good working environments also have a lot to do with good leaders. If our leaders are good, we will see more productivity. We will also more employees wanting to stay and not leave when there is a sudden R500 more offer elsewhere.

So, this Human Rights month why not look at our workplaces. Identify ways in which we can make it better for those that bring home the sales. Create holistic working spaces, allow for ‘work from home’ and flexi hours. After all a happy employee will ensure better productivity.

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute. ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za | devan-moonsamy.com

Devan Moonsamy

South Africa reported its first case of the Coronavirus last week sending the nation into a panic. Hand sanitisers have flown of the shelf and masks are becoming impossible to find.

The announcement has not just caused panic but has also seen employers under pressure with the effect the scare of the virus will have on its employees.

But even before the Coronavirus, we are familiar with poor office hygiene that is practised when someone has a cold or flu.

From holding crumpled up tissues while making copies of documents to blowing their noses at the water cooler, when we are fluish we don’t execute the necessary precautions to prevent the germs from spreading to others.

With that being said by demanding people wash their hands more often is absolutely astonishing as this should be happening already. As an adult would you eat before washing your hands?

If you don’t and forget then that is unacceptable. It should not take a deadly virus to have to remind us of basic hygiene. That being said below are a few do’s and don’t in the office space to minimise the risk of spreading germs in general but to also ensure we take caution and adhere to the prevention steps of the Coronavirus.

• Start by making it a ritual to wash your hands. Before you touch your lunch bag, before you pop something into your mouth or even apply lip balm, ensure you wash your hands.

• If you have flu symptoms go to the doctor. This is an extremely important point. This should be a must. Be it a cough, fever or a sneeze go tot the doctor. There is no point exhausting yourself at work when you will not be productive.

• If you are able to work from home perhaps pitch this to your manager to reduce the risk of getting the strain of viruses in the air.

• If you use public transport to get to work use a mask during these trips. If you have flu symptoms while using public transport practise hygiene when coughing and sneezing.

As much the coronavirus is transmitted from someone who is tested positive, these tips are a general go to when dealing with hygiene in the work place. We should speak to our companies with regards to a plan of action should we be exposed to a quarantine.

In the meantime, let us keep washing our hands and practise great hygiene.

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute. ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za | devan-moonsamy.com

Devan Moonsamy

On the 8^th of March the spotlight will be on International Woman’s Day. International Women’s Day was first celebrated more than a century ago in the 1911. The theme for the year 2020 is, I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights. According to the UN Women website, the theme is aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the Beijing Platform for Action is recognized as the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of woman and girls everywhere.

The aim of the year 2020 is to advance gender equality worldwide. It is also a time for the global community to take stock of the steps and progress made in addressing concerns around rights for women.

Gender equality is essential in economies and in communities to ensure we thrive. But where do we start with equality? Do we wait till we get to the workplace or does it start at home?

It starts at home.

Gender equality starts at home and families must be at the forefront of change. Whether it is breaking down gender stereotypes to sharing responsibilities, educating children about gender equality starts within the family. Here are some ways to start the transformation:

• Let’s start the conversation in our home. Talk to your kids about gender equality and women’s rights. Talking to kids will not just allow them to be informed but also ensure they are familiar with what needs to be done to reach a world with equality and women’s rights.

• Distribute the chores to all children. We shouldn’t raise our kids with the mindset that only females do the dishes and only males will carry in the basket of washing. Children must be given equal responsibility to understand how even in the world both male and female must work together to achieve a better world.

• Break stereotypes. Stop telling kids that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Stop telling kids that girls clean up and boys don’t have to help doing this. Create a home were your kids are free from fitting into boxes that society has built to dictate how men and woman traditionally exist for years.

This does not imply that if we do all of this, we will ensure we reach gender equality. But buy establishing the change we will start the conversation and awareness on the long journey we have ahead of us to achieve gender equality and woman rights.

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute. ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za | devan-moonsamy.com

Devan Moonsamy

On the 21^st of February the world celebrated World Mother Language day. The theme for the year was languages without borders. This day is celebrated across the world to acknowledge and glorify diversity in the world. According to the United Nations around 43 percent of the 6000 languages spoke across the world are at risk of being eliminated.

The UN has said that on average a language disappears every 2 weeks, which destroys an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. In keeping with the need to promote cultural diversity and there was hope that local and cross boarder languages would promote peaceful dialogue and help to preserve indigenous heritage.

In the forefront of training we are often asked about cultural diversity and how it should be promoted. What companies find is that there are groups of people that use their mother tongue or mother language at work and this results in misunderstandings. People who are not familiar with the language start to assume that the conversation could be about them. In an event like this we often suggest a constant medium of communication. But do we actually realise how difficult it must eb for someone who does not use English as their home language to engage in the work place.

It becomes a long battle of thinking of a sentence in your home language then translating it (the best way you can) in your mind before sharing it with someone else. We identify these as communication barriers. Because we identify culture and language as barriers.

So how do we overcome these barriers in the workplace?

The solution is so simple and it definitely can form part of a team building exercise. Why not utalise a day in the week to be an information exchanging session? Friday, often the day to wrap up the weeks agenda can be a day used to raise awareness and knowledge around various cultures and their languages.

This way should people communicate with like-language people in the office it would be applauded and encouraged. This could also bring out other cultural groups to share their mother languages and learn about their languages.

We have very little time until millennials take over with much more texting and less face to face conversations. While we have the time let us use it to promote diversity and learning. We don’t have to wait for Heritage Day. Make Heritage happen as often as you can.

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute. ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za | devan-moonsamy.com