MISA eDATA JANUARY 2021

Grievances – The way to resolve my issue at work…or not!

Jan 14, 2021

Bridging the gap between Women and Girls in Science

Jan 20, 2021

Jan 15, 2021

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☎️ MISA HEAD OFFICE (011) 476 3920

Dear MISA member,

What does comorbidity mean and how does it affect you as a MISA member?

Much has been said about people with comorbidities and an increased risk associated with the coronavirus.

Simply put, comorbidity means that a person has one or more medical conditions (such as hypertension, obesity, chronic lung conditions, heart conditions, diabetes, etc.) at the same time. In the context of Covid-19, it puts people at a higher risk of developing complications if they are infected with the coronavirus.

Martlé Keyter, MISA CEO, Operations

In this issue, we look at how this affects you as MISA member who, regardless of being diagnosed with a comorbidity, is still willing to work.

On another but related topic, I recently came across an interesting quote that reads, “The future will definitely not be the past”.

The message the author was trying to bring across is that irrespective of how the new Covid-19 vaccines may protect us from the virus, we are not going back to the old “normal”.

We need to accept that the changes in the workplace are here to stay and adapt as best as possible to the new environment and challenges.

To this end, we devote an article on emotional intelligence and how controlling and understanding your behaviour can help you cope better in the workplace.

We also revisit the Covid-19 regulations that apply in the workplace, and look at ways at keeping your brain healthy for better performance at work and in all areas of your life.

We wish you a happy, healthy and successful 2021.

Enjoy, and all the best!

Martlé Keyter
MISA CEO: Operations

PS: Don’t forget to follow us online.

A comorbidity should not exclude you from the workplace by default, writes Tiekie Mocke, MISA’s Manager: Legal Department.

Regulations in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (the Regulations) place an onus on employers to provide for vulnerable employees and to accommodate them as far as possible.

Unfortunately, many employers do not even consider alternatives or special measures. A stay-at-home approach is unilaterally adopted for vulnerable employees which means that employees who can still work and earn an income, are forced to stay at home with dire financial consequences.

We look at the duties and responsibilities of both the employer and employee in this regard.

What does this comorbidity mean and how does it affect you as a MISA member?

Comorbidity means that a person has one or more medical conditions (such as hypertension, obesity, chronic lung conditions, heart conditions, diabetes, etc.) at the same time. In the context of Covid-19, it puts people at a higher risk of developing complications if they are infected with the coronavirus.

The effect on your ability to work

When you suffer from comorbidities you may be identified as a vulnerable employee and thus be incapacitated to work.

In terms of the Regulations, employers should adopt special measures for vulnerable employees and a person with a comorbidity must be on a list if required to work from home as part of the Workplace Plan.

Unfortunately, many employers do not even consider alternatives or special measures. A stay-at-home approach is unilaterally adopted for vulnerable employees which means that employees who can still work and earn an income, are forced to stay at home with dire financial consequences.

The Department of Health published a guidance note on vulnerable employees and workplace accommodation in relation to Covid-19 which stresses the importance of the element of fairness in the employer-employee relationship. READ MORE..

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE…

Emotional intelligence is about understanding how your emotions shape your thoughts and actions so that you can have greater control over your behaviour and develop the skills to manage yourself more effectively, write Thandeka Phiri and Gogontle Kgwathe.

The more you understand yourself, the better you will be able to handle the stresses that come with work, and the external factors that might influence how you experience the work environment.

Practice observing how you feel

It is easy to lose touch with our emotions. To reconnect, try setting a timer for various points during the day. When the timer goes off, take a few deep breaths and take note of how you’re feeling emotionally.

Pay attention to how you behave

While you’re practising your emotional awareness, take the time to notice your behaviour too. Observe how you act when you’re experiencing certain emotions, and how that affects your day-to-day life.

Question your own opinions

Take time to read the other side of the story and have your views challenged (even if you still feel they are right). This will help you understand other people and be more receptive to new ideas.

Take responsibility for your feelings

Your emotions and behaviour come from you and once you start accepting responsibility for how you feel and how you behave, it will have a positive impact on all areas of your life.

Take time to celebrate the positive

People who experience positive emotions are generally more resilient and more likely to have fulfilling relationships, which will help them move past adversity.

Don’t ignore the negative

Understanding why you feel negative is key to becoming a fully-rounded individual who is better able to deal with negative issues in the future.

Don’t forget to breathe

Life throws various situations our way, with most of us experiencing some sort of stress on a regular basis. To manage your emotions when this happens and to avoid outbursts, don’t forget to breathe.

A lifetime process

Understand and remember that emotional intelligence is something you develop and requires continual improvement: it’s very much a lifetime practice.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE…

After his initial announcement on 28 December 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa recently confirmed that the country will continue with an adjusted Level 3 of lockdown. In terms of the adjusted Level 3 Regulations, employers have the following obligations and responsibilities:

Take measures to enforce physical distancing of 1.5m in its workplace, including implementing measures such as remote work, restrictions on face-to-face meetings and taking special measures in relation to employees who are considered vulnerable due to their age or comorbidities; and provide hand sanitisers outside its premises.
Ensure all persons queuing either inside or outside their premises maintain a physical distance of 1.5m.
Determine the floor plan area of the workplace and the number of persons who may enter the workplace based on the floor plan area, while still maintaining a physical distance of 1.5m.
Prohibit employees from entering the workplace or performing their duties unless an employee is wearing a face mask.
To appoint a compliance officer to enforce compliance with Level 3 Regulations and all other health and safety protocols issued to date.
To adhere to all sector specific or other health and safety protocols issued to date.

In addition to the required health and safety protocols and in order to mitigate the risk of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the workplace, once employees return from the holiday period, an employer may also institute the following measures…

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE…

We are always happy to share in the success of our members! Truter Vorster was named the 2020 Technical Trainer of the Year for the Wadeville branch by the MOTUS Technical Academy.

Truter has always shown a keen interest in cars – from as early as age four, he would peer under the hood of his father’s cars to admire the engine! He later took to dismantling some of his father’s tools (something that was not always well received)…

He matriculated at Aliwal North High School in 2005, where he received an award for best performing student in Motor Technology.

Truter joined MOTUS, the then Imperial Group, at its GM branch in Bloemfontein in 2006, where he completed his Apprenticeship. He has been part of the MOTUS Group and a MISA member ever since!

He qualified as Diesel Technician and later as Petrol Technician and also has the title of Technician of the Year under his belt.

In October 2017, Truter moved into the field of technical training as a Senior Technical Trainer at MOTUS’ Training Academy in Wadeville.

Despite the Covid-19 challenges, his consistency and passion landed him
the well-deserve title of Technical Trainer of the Year 2020 for the Wadeville branch.

“Always treat the car you are working on as your own,” is Truter’s motto that he shares with his students.

His aim is to qualify as Automotive Electrician in 2021.

Many of us sometimes feel forgetful, unfocused and not quite as sharp as we would like to be. This is a condition some refer to as brain fog and in this issue we look at ways to manage this situation, writes Meghan Rabbitt.

Take control of your stress reaction

It’s easy to get into a mindset in which everything is negative and it feels like there’s nothing you can do about stress.

Just by determining what is causing you the stress is already helping you to cope better and may help you find solutions to minimise anxiety.

Set a sleep routine

Sleep is a vital element to keep your brain healthy. While a night or two of poor sleep is still manageable, consistent sleep trouble can cause long-term harm. Set a sleep routine and keep with it.

Get moving

What’s good for your heart is good for your brain. If your heart isn’t pumping blood properly, your brain won’t get the oxygen-rich blood it needs to support memory function and alertness. Plus, exercise improves your mood and reduces stress.

Stimulate your brain

Your brain actually hates the same old thinking and ways of doing things. That means the best way to give your grey matter a shot of excitement is to innovate. Even simple things can help. At work, try a different approach to a task you’ve done a thousand times. In your downtime, take a new route to the grocery store or listen to different music as you walk around your neighbourhood.

The annual MISA Women’s Forum Woman of the Year award is one of the MISA Women’s Forum’s most important development initiatives.

As a campaigner for the equal rights of women in the retail motor industry, the MISA Women’s Forum instituted this award in 2010 to pay homage to the role that women play in this important economic sector. But the award aims to do more than that: it is an important opportunity for the winner to grow and develop personally and professionally during her tenure as the MISA Woman of the Year.

We are not necessarily looking for the most senior, most successful woman in the retail motor industry, but we are looking for someone who has the potential to develop far beyond their current job title and role.

Another important criterion is also the difference the person makes in the lives of others, whether it’s through community involvement, or by simply touching and enriching the lives of people at work or in the community. We all know someone who is the ‘sunshine’ in an office or dealership.

She is someone who is selfless and has a passion for serving people of all walks of life; someone who makes a difference in your life. That is the kind of person that the MISA Women’s Forum is looking to find and develop further through this annual award.

DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORM HERE

Nominate someone now!

The world is still reeling from the enormity of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our seemingly ‘normal’ operations and lives. For businesses, there have been significant disruptions in how strategic, operational and external risks are viewed and handled, many of which have been amplified by the influence of the pandemic. No matter which way you approach it, COVID-19 has fundamentally changed the parameters for business of what constitutes success in the future, and how risks will be measured and mitigated.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE…