We wish to advise our clients on the key issues that may be raised as non-compliance and how to avoid them this Employment Equity reporting season.
Failing to consult with your Employment Equity Committee before submitting the report online
Consultation is very important, and minutes of the meeting must be documented in case of future audits. Employment Equity Committee consultation can help to verify that figures being submitted are accurate.
The CEO or Accounting Officer signs off on the report without verifying its accuracy
The CEO or Accounting Officer needs to be familiar with the EEA2 and EEA4 report being submitted by the Employment Equity Manager as there is a potential risk to putting a signature on the report that he or she has not seen. By signing the CEO or Accounting Officer acknowledges that the company has either met or not met its obligations to transformation. He or she further acknowledges that the report being submitted is accurate and contains the barriers to transformation that have been identified in their organisation.
The implementation of the EE plan
Many times, reports have been submitted at the last minute by a consultant or HR person without interrogation of the numbers and this will have a significant impact going forward with the proposed promulgation of Section 53. It is important that organisations take a step back and scrutinize its implementation of employment equity opportunities in respect of recruitment, terminations, promotions and skills development. The EEA2 and EEA4 report should not just be a tick box exercise. It should be a reflection of how well the organisation is doing on transformation. Looking at the figures should also make your organisation ask questions about the barriers that have contributed to not recruiting, promoting or retaining people from the designated groups.
Failing to submit your report
Lastly, capturing a report on-line does not mean submission. Please ensure that after consultation you click the Submit button, and receive a letter confirming submission. Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to submit your report.
At GBS we off our clients the convenience of submitting EE reports directly to the DoL on their behalf. If you would like us to submit your EE report, please contact us before 11 December 2018.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
