Next update -
The place where I work, well, let me get into some background (it's been posted here somewhere before)..
I started here helping out an elderly couple that had started and owned the business since around 1970, give or take a year or two. He was very ill, and needed someone to help with the maintenance of the machines. I was unemployed, and happy to work 2 days a week!
Move along a year or so, and Covid came and went, kind of, and he got it, and passed, 27/06/2021. A very sad situation.
His wife had to keep the business going, asked me to come in full time, and run it for her as the manager. Meantime, she was looking to sell the company. There had been long time discussions with a buyer, and he again showed interest, but kept delaying, questioning the value, etc. and drove the price right down before he made an offer - so low that had I known what he was offering, I would have counter offered and bought it myself (had a financier available who was willing to put up the money). Anyway, he made it a clause in the deal that he would only close the deal if I signed a 2 year contract to stay on as manager - so I used the chance to negotiate a good salary, and signed.
The new boss was okay, I saw him twice in the 18 months he owned the place, basically he trusted me to run it for him, and I did. End-to-end.
Then he sold it, at the same time as he sold his other company, which just happens to be our biggest client (basically two companies, one owner, keeping the work, and Rand, in-house).
Now, the new owner is an African - he bought the companies with invested money (DTI), so it cost him nothing. His plan is to create a corporate - and whilst doing so he has managed to destroy both companies! Back to the DTI for another loan, which it looks like he's going to get!!!
Anyway, my contract of employment was for 2 years. In April, when the 2 HR ladies (said tongue in cheek) came here to introduce themselves, I made sure to let them know my contract was due to expire on 31 May, and gave them a copy, and asked them to discuss a renewal, or whatever, before then. I heard nothing back!
While they were here though, we bumped heads over a couple of issues, which told me that a) they were not as bright as they tried to make out, and b) they hadn't done any research on small engineering companies and their policies in South Africa. So they left here not too happy with my "attitude"!
Two weeks ago, Thursday 21 Aug, I turned 66. On the Friday afternoon I received an email from the GM at the sister company (it would seem he's also my GM, but i have never formally been told, neither have the staff where I work). I just said he wanted to meet with me the next Monday to discuss my contract.
It screwed my weekend, causing me much tension and stress, as I didn't know if he was talking to renew it, or end it. However, I managed to remain relatively calm bout it.
Come Monday, and I get stuff sorted at the office, and drive through to meet with hi. I walk into his office, say hi, and he says oh, I'm not meeting with him anymore, I am meeting with the CEO (the dude that owns both companies). No problem - I walk to his office, knock go in and say hi, and sit down.
He was pleasant, we discussed current production challenges, we discussed the stock sorting I have been doing to get rid of the stuff we do' want / need / use. And then he said he heard I had just had a birthday, and what was my plan> I said I'm happy to keep working - he replied that we should start looking for a replacement, someone who can work alongside me, I can train / show the ropes, and he said, we will look for someone around January. I said fine by me, someone over 50 preferably, with mechanical / fitter and turned background, some drawing experience, and good HR skills. He agreed, and we left it there.
Oh, I recorded the whole meeting on my cellphone - he was not aware of this, but no matter. I have the whole discussion on record.
Friday, 30th, I get an email from the HR consultant - requesting I print and sign the two attached documents, and send them back to here asap.
1) Basically giving me 24 hours notice that they are retiring me because I turned 60 6 years ago! and
2) A employment contract for the period 01 Sept till 31 Dec, during which time I will be expected to continue with my work, and train my replacement!
Well, needless to say, this email fucked up my whole weekend! My head was in top gear, thinking through all possible scenarios, what I was going to say / do, how I was going to get around this.
However, I spent most of Sunday doing research, and found out a lot of stuff:-
a) There is NO law in South Africa that says you have to retire at 60 (or any other age for that matter).
b) It is not a company policy at Rhombic that you must retire at 60 - as it is, I started here at 61, and signed the 2 year contract at 64!
c) My agreement says they need to give me as a minimum 30 days notice (not 24 hours).
I sent an email off on Monday morning to the CEO and the HR lady (not the HR Consultant), and asked for an urgent meeting. I got a notification back that both had read the email by 2pm same day. As i write this, I have had no communication back from either of them, or the HR Consultant asking me where my signed documents might be!
On Tuesday I met with an acquaintance - who just happens to be a hot shot HR Consultant - to look through the situation with me, and to vet my prepared response / challenges, and discuss my options.
First thing he did was take out all the emotional points I had written down (go figure), but it's right. Then we checked my contract, discussed options....
Next step, send an email on Friday, just before I knock off, asking why I have not heard back!
Then, my position is going to be as follows:- (apart from pointing out that there is no legal requirement for retirement)
a) As they had been made aware of the fact that my contract was expiring, and had for several months done nothing about it, it is reasonable for me to assume that my contract was renewed for a further 2 years.
b) The tone of the mail sent by the GM also gave me an indication that this was to renew.
c) How come only after they learned that I had turned 66 did they suddenly want to get rid of me, or was that just the opening they though they were waiting for?
d) If they still want to get rid of me, what they should have done was give me 30 days notice. And then, we could sit down and negotiate my contract for the next period where I train the new guy - during which time I would probably add 50% to my current salary!
But I'm not giving them that option. In my humble opinion, my contract is renewed for 24 months - the CCMA would probably find it is a reasonable expectation - they would probably be forced to make me a settlement offer - probably.
As it is, they currently have two scenarios on the go:-
1) The had a temp receptionist for over 6 months - a white girl. They interviewed a host of black girls for the post, and then gave her notice and employed one of the black girls. The white girl consulted with a labor lawyer, as the law says if you have been a temp in a position for a certain amount of time, you should have first option when the position needs to be filled with a permanent person! Now that the company has had a meeting with her and her lawyers, they want to settle out of court - she's adamant, 12 months salary or they go to labor court!
2) The warehouse manager, a very competent WHITE guy, had some scrap shelving lying around. It was in the way, and a safety hazard (in case someone tripped over it). He got a dealer to come in, weight it, bought it from him, issued an invoice, and paid cash. The guy took the paperwork, and the cash, and gave it to the people in accounts. No problem. EXCEPT - sometime in July, the company issue a procedure document for the disposal of scrap. It's a 7 page document, requires copious amounts of signatures and approvals, and multiple quotes - from CFM and CEO and GM...seriously.
When this was discussed at the time, they said they would go and relook at it, and simplify it. Meantime he sold the scrap. Now that have suspended him based on the fact he did not follow the process! Never mind that they said they would be reviewing it! Let's see how this turns out.
At the end of the day, it seems they are doing their best to get rid of all the white employees. Seeing as these are the people who have been there the longest, and know the business and how things should operate, they will eventually find themselves with a boatload of expensive black employees who don't know what they are doing, and shit will collapse.
At current rates, I estimate these 2 company will close it's doors by latest June 2026.
More to follow as shit unveils.....
