Fhatuwani Joseph Ligege, Yvonne du Plessis
Abstract
The UN Agenda 2030 sustainability goals 5 and 10 and the South African Labour Law prioritise gender equality and equity in the workplace. The absence of equitable workplace practices in South Africa is often assumed in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which denies employees basic rights, respect, dignity, and social justice. This study explored small business owners’ perceptions of equitable workplace practices within a selected area in Gauteng. An interpretivist philosophy and a qualitative cross-sectional research design were employed. Non-probability, purposive, and convenient sampling techniques were used to select the sample group, of which ten small business owners voluntarily participated. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data, data transcripts were thematically analysed, and ethical conduct was observed. Findings show that small business owners in the catering and accommodation industry know about employment equity and requisite practices in the workplace. Unfortunately, numerous challenges hinder them from implementing equitable workplace practices as required by especially SA labour law. These challenges include focusing on business profitability and sustainability and not on people, struggling with gender roles and capabilities, lacking adequate resources and limited in-house expertise. Most participants felt ill-prepared to implement equitable workplace practices and feared disputes. Small business owners expressed a critical need for specific training and development in employment equity practices. Study limitations and future research are also outlined.