VCMA

VCMA has received a license from the Department of Labour to be a virtual independent dispute resolution center. A disciplinary hearing starts in the workplace, often resulting in dismissal or unfair demotion. The matter is referred to the CCMA or an Industry Dispute Resolution Centre and If no resolution is reached, it gets referred for arbitration at the CCMA or DRC. 14 Days later the outcome is made by way of an AWARD which is a final decision. When the matter is referred to CCMA or DRC the employer has to send a complete delegation to the conciliation or arbitration. Key personnel such as a director/manager, the financial manager and the key witnesses, all are out of office for at least a day or part thereof. They often arrive at the CCMA/DRC but the Applicant doesn't, which leads to another trip at a later stage. Lost opportunity costs (travel, tolls, parking fees, sustenance, a day's salary for all the delegates, specialists etc.) varies between R7800.00 and R40 000.00 per day. VCMA schedules the hearing, every participant is at his/her own desk or workstation, resulting in the minimum downtime and opportunity cost. We do pre-dismissal arbitrations and the disciplinary hearing immediately becomes an arbitration. The employee isn't left without income for a period that can exceed 90 days before they can seek new employment, and the employer knows to either amend his treatment of the employee or can seek a new employee in their place. There's no chance of the employee being wrongfully dismissed and the employer being held liable for compensation or having to entertain settlement offers. The Section 188A pre-dismissal arbitration is the first and only decision being made in the process. The award is rendered within the required statutory timelines and almost no disruption took place. Our retainers start at R3550.00 per month depending on the business headcount and will vary in the instance where more days need to be spent on disciplinary hearings.