Insights Into the Roles of HR Practitioners When Managing Labour Relations Incidents in the Correctional Services in South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2664-3731/15834Keywords:
labour relations incidents, correctional services, human resources practitionersAbstract
Human resource professionals aim to optimise employee performance to align with the employer’s strategic goals. Their multifaceted roles often involve challenges, especially when duties conflict with organisational values in labour relations. Some labour relations incidents might have psychological aspects that are not fully addressed by current policies or resolution methods. This study explored the roles assumed by HR practitioners in the Department of Correctional services (DCS) in South Africa, when managing labour relations incidents. It aimed to identify the support available and needed by these practitioners. The study employed a qualitative approach, with a purposive sample of 21 HR practitioners from the DCS involved in labour relations. The data were collected through structured interviews, and were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. HR professionals in correctional services were found to undertake diverse roles, including those of advisors and facilitators. They managed a range of incidents, from minor infractions to serious offences such as smuggling or use of force. A notable gap was identified between the support they receive and what they need, which indicated potential areas for organisational support improvement. The study highlights the importance of psychological support mechanisms to help HR practitioners manage challenging job demands. The study suggests that HR practitioners be trained in conflict resolution techniques. Addressing resource constraints through increased budget allocations and enhancing IT support is crucial for efficient incident management. Open communication channels are essential for HR practitioners to express concerns freely. Management and leadership development programmes focusing on ethical practices and creative problem-solving are recommended to address mismanagement and misuse of authority.
References
Afriforte (2019). The OHFB workplace analytics system. http://www.afriforte.com/home/ohfb/
Armstrong, M. (2020). Armstrong’s handbook of human resource management practice: A guide to the theory and practice of people management (7th ed.). KoganPage.
Barnard, N. B., Rothmann, S., De Beer, L. T., & Lubbe, W. (2023). Burnout of emergency nurses in a South African context: The role of job demands and resources, and capabilities. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1119063. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1119063 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1119063
Bhoodram, P. A. (2010). An evaluation of the employee assistance programme in the Department of Correctional Services benchmarked against the standards of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association of South Africa [Doctoral dissertation, University of Pretoria]. https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/28567/Complete.pdf?sequence=6
Bratton, J., Gold, J., Bratton, A., & Steele, L. (2021). Human resource management. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Bryman, A., & Bell, E. (2015). Business research methods (4th ed). Oxford University Press.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches (4th ed.). Sage.
Daniel, B. K. (2019). Using the TACT framework to learn the principles of rigour in qualitative research. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 17(3), 118–129. https://doi.org/10.34190/JBRM.17.3.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.34190/JBRM.17.3.002
Department of Correctional Services (2020). Revised 2020–2025 strategic plan. DCS. http://www.dcs.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/REVISED-5-YEAR-STRATEGIC-PLAN-SIGNED.pdf
Diawati, P., Gadzali, S. S., Abd Aziz, M. K. N., Ausat, A. M. A., & Suherlan, S. (2023). The role of information technology in improving the efficiency and productivity of human resources in the workplace. Jurnal Teknologi Dan Sistem Informasi Bisnis, 5(3), 296–302. https://doi.org/10.47233/jteksis.v5i3.872 DOI: https://doi.org/10.47233/jteksis.v5i3.872
Doyle, L., McCabe, C., Keogh, B., Brady, A., & McCann, M. (2020). An overview of the qualitative descriptive design within nursing research. Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(5), 443–455. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987119880234 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987119880234
Edmondson, A. C. (2018). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. Wiley. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Fearless+Organization%3A+Creating+Psychological+Safety+in+the+Workplace+for+Learning%2C+Innovation%2C+and+Growth-p-9781119477266
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
FitzPatrick, B. (2019). Validity in qualitative health education research. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning, 11(2), 211–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.11.014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2018.11.014
Guerin, L. (2022). The essential guide to workplace investigations: A step-by-step guide to handling employee complaints & problems. Nolo.
Hu, L., Chang, T. W., Lee, Y. S., & Huang, C. H. (2022). A moderated mediation model of emotional engagement in the development of emotional exhaustion: The moderating role of emotional resources. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 878415. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.878415 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.878415
Kompier, M., & Aust, B. (2016). Organizational stress management interventions: Is it the singer not the song? Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 42(5), 355–358. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3578 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3578
Levitt, H. M., Bamberg, M., Creswell, J. W., Frost, D. M., Josselson, R., & Suárez-Orozco, C. (2018). Journal article reporting standards for qualitative primary, qualitative meta-analytic, and mixed methods research in psychology: The APA Publications and Communications Board task force report. American Psychologist, 73(1), 26–46. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000151 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000151
McIntosh, M. J., & Morse, J. M. (2015). Situating and constructing diversity in semi-structured interviews. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2333393615597674 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2333393615597674
Mendy, J. (2020). Bouncing back from workplace stress: From HRD’s individual employee’s developmental focus to multi-facetted collective workforce resilience intervention. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 22(4), 353–369. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422320946231 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422320946231
Mulisa, F. (2022). When does a researcher choose a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed research approach? Interchange, 53(1), 113–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10780-021-09447-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10780-021-09447-z
Ndago, E. D. (2020). The relationship between performance appraisal and employee productivity in the State Department for Correctional Services in Kwale County [Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi]. http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/154075
Paauwe, J., & Boon, C. (2018). Strategic HRM: A critical review. In D. G. Collings, G. T. Wood & L. T. Szamosi (Eds.), Human resource management (pp. 49–73). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315299556-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315299556-3
Porath, C. (2016). Mastering civility: A manifesto for the workplace. Grand Central Publishing.
Radic, A., Arjona-Fuentes, J. M., Ariza-Montes, A., Han, H., & Law, R. (2020). Job demands–job resources (JD-R) model, work engagement, and well-being of cruise ship employees. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 88, 102518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102518 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102518
Reilly, P. (2000). HR shared services and the realignment of HR. Institute for Employment Studies. https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/system/files/resources/files/368.pdf
Republic of South Africa. (2013). Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. Government Printers.
Saha, N., Gregar, A., & Sáha, P. (2017). Organizational agility and HRM strategy: Do they really enhance firms’ competitiveness? International Journal of Organizational Leadership, 6(3), 323–334. https://doi.org/10.33844/ijol.2017.60454 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33844/ijol.2017.60454
Scanlan, J. N., & Still, M. (2019). Relationships between burnout, turnover intention, job satisfaction, job demands and job resources for mental health personnel in an Australian mental health service. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3841-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3841-z
Schaufeli, W. B. (2017). Applying the job demands–resources model. Organizational Dynamics, 46(2), 120–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2017.04.008 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2017.04.008
Sciberras, M., & Dingli, A. (2023). Qualitative research and findings. In Investigating AI readiness in the Maltese public administration (pp. 33–41). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19900-4_10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19900-4_10
Serenko, A. (2020). Knowledge sabotage as an extreme form of counterproductive knowledge behavior: The perspective of the target. Journal of Knowledge Management, 24(4), 737–773. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1108/JKM-06-2019-0337 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-06-2019-0337
South African Board for People Practices. (2023). Product solutions & business. People practices and governance standards. https://www.sabpp.co.za/product-solutions/index
Ulrich, D., & Brockbank, W. (2005). The HR value proposition. Harvard Business School Press.
Van Gramberg, B., Teicher, J., & O’Rourke, A. (2014). Managing electronic communications: A new challenge for human resource managers. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 25(16), 2234–2252. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.872166 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2013.872166
Wilkinson, A. (2022). Human resource management: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780198714736.001.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780198714736.001.0001
Willemse, R. (2021). An investigation into the South African correctional officers’ experiences of their work and the Employee Assistance Programme. South African Journal of Psychology, 51(4), 547–559. https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246320980312 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0081246320980312
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
