Services for Employers
A dismissal that fails at the CCMA usually fails on procedure, not merits. Sentinel keeps employer processes defensible — from the first charge sheet to the final written verdict.
Independent Hearing Chairperson Services
An independent chairperson is the difference between a defensible process and a perception of bias that unravels it. Sentinel chairs disciplinary hearings and final incapacity inquiries: controlling proceedings, applying Schedule 8 of the LRA, and delivering reasoned written verdicts that withstand CCMA scrutiny.
| Engagement | Rate |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate (2-hour minimum) | R1,300 per hour |
| Half-day (up to 4 hours) | R4,500 |
| Full day (5–8 hours) | R7,500 |
| Pre- and post-hearing professional time (preparation, evidence analysis, verdict drafting) | R1,300 per hour |
You are always billed on the “lesser of” principle — whichever applicable rate produces the lowest fee for the engagement duration. Rate tiers are never combined.
Employment Contracts, Policies & Handbooks
Foundational documents are the first thing examined when a dismissal is challenged. We draft employment contracts, disciplinary codes, grievance procedures, and supporting HR documentation aligned with the LRA and BCEA — tailored to your business, not generic templates.
- Single custom employment contract — R1,800
- Comprehensive Employee Handbook — R8,500
Labour Compliance Audit
A structured review of your contracts, policies, disciplinary records, and BCEA compliance — identifying exposure before an inspector or the CCMA does. Tiered by business size; contact us for the tier applicable to your operation.
Poor Work Performance (PWP) Management
Poor performance is an incapacity matter under Schedule 8 — handled differently from misconduct, and unforgiving of shortcuts. Our three-phase service covers:
- Assessment & documentation — establishing the standard and the gap
- Structured Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) — with support and review sessions
- Incapacity inquiry — independently chaired by Sentinel where dismissal is contemplated
Ad-hoc Remote Advisory
On-demand professional guidance for discrete questions — a charge sheet review, a procedural query, a sanction decision. R1,000 per hour, remote, responsive.
Retainers
A structured retainer offering for employers with recurring disciplinary or HR advisory needs is in development. In the interim, we accommodate retainer arrangements on a bespoke basis — contact us to discuss.
Our Services & Fees — Employers
All fees are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR).
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hearing Chairperson — hourly rate (2-hour minimum, billed per full hour commenced) | R 1,300 / hour |
| Hearing Chairperson — half-day (total engagement of 4 hours or less) | R 4,500 |
| Hearing Chairperson — full day (up to 8 hours) | R 7,500 |
| Single Custom Employment Contract | R 1,800 |
| Core Policy Package — key workplace policies | R 4,500 |
| Comprehensive Employee Handbook | R 7,500 – R 10,000 |
| Labour Compliance Audit — small business (1–20 employees) | R 4,500 |
| Labour Compliance Audit — medium business (21–50 employees) | R 9,000 |
| Labour Compliance Audit — large business (50+ employees) | R 15,000 |
| PWP Phase 1 — PIP Launch Package | R 4,500 |
| PWP Phase 2 — interim counselling & monitoring (per session) | R 2,200 / session |
| PWP Phase 3 — Final Incapacity Inquiry chairperson — half-day | R 4,500 |
| PWP Phase 3 — Final Incapacity Inquiry chairperson — full day | R 7,500 |
| Ad-hoc Remote Advisory — billed in 15-minute increments | R 1,000 / hour |
Chairperson billing — the "lesser of" principle: for Hearing Chairperson and PWP Phase 3 engagements, the fee is calculated on actual hours worked, applying whichever single rate (hourly, half-day, or full-day) produces the lower total. Rate tiers are never combined. Fees are subject to annual review; the fee applicable to your engagement is the fee published at the time of payment. Full details are set out in our Terms & Conditions.