Quote Originally Posted by Justloadit View Post
Even if the employer retrenched you, or even if it was an unfair dismissal, the most you will get is one week for each year served. That's what was awarded to you.
Er ... no. Compensation for unfair dismissal can be up to 12 months' salary, regardless of the period of employment. If a dismissal is deemed to be automatically unfair, then the compensation can be as much as 24 months' salary.

It's not just the Labour Relations Act that is heavily weighted towards employees. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets out minimum employment terms, so employers can't just treat employees as they please. The Employment Equity Act introduces mandatory employer conduct standards by prohibiting unfair discrimination, as well as mandatory employment demographic targets for medium and large companies. Don't even get me started on the forthcoming amendments to these laws, or the all-new Employment Services Bill that will be signed into law soon ...