Faan Coetzee, a director in the Employment practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr has advised South African businesses to think ahead regarding public holidays and the impact they will have on business this year.
He says that this year, the 16th of December 2012 is the only public holiday that falls on a Sunday. In terms of the Public Holidays Act, Monday 17 December 2012 becomes an additional public holiday. The extra day off, in addition to the existing public holiday, impacts on working arrangements and shifts and needs to be considered in advance by employers. Collective agreements may govern public holidays, working arrangements and shifts.
He adds; “Employers can expect requests for additional days off on Monday, 30 April 2012, Friday, 10 August 2012, Monday, 24 December 2012 and Monday, 31 December 2012 because they fall in between the weekends and an existing public holiday. Employers may wish to timeously make arrangements with employees to work in the additional days.”
