Workplace disputes are not always about misconduct or poor performance. Sometimes the difficulty lies in something far less tangible: the breakdown of workplace relationships.
South African labour law has long recognised that employment relationships are not purely transactional arrangements. While the employment contract may formally regulate the exchange of labour for remuneration, the functioning of modern workplaces depends on far more than the just the technical performance of duties. Cooperation, communication and trust between colleagues play a central role in maintaining a productive and functional working environment.
In practice, challenges sometimes arise even where an employee performs their duties competently. The difficulty may not lie in an employee’s ability to carry out their role, nor in misconduct warranting disciplinary action. Instead, tensions may arise from strained working relationships within the workplace. An employee may be capable and productive, yet
