Doctoral Degrees (Mercantile Law)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Mercantile Law) by Author "Conradie, Riana"

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    A comparative legal analysis of the accommodation of neurodiversity in the workplace : towards a universal right to reasonable accommodation
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Conradie, Riana; Garbers, Christoph; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Mercantile Law.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Workforces are made up of individuals with differences in personal characteristics, differences that may be traced back to unique personality types and traits and – sometimes – neurodivergence. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the interpersonal relationships that form the foundation of a work environment, these differences in personal characteristics inevitably lead to tension. In addition, as part of managing a work environment employers frequently take decisions that may be influenced by views and perceptions regarding employees’ personal characteristics. This study starts with a descriptive examination of the meaning of personality and the influence that personality traits and types may have on employment. This is followed by a descriptive examination of neurodivergence, the various forms of neurodivergence, and the impact of these conditions on the work environment. Building on these descriptive and conceptual underpinnings, the legal implications of neurodiversity in the workplace are investigated by identifying which principles of the existing South African employment law framework may be utilised to provide protection and promote respect for neurodiversity and the neurodiverse differences between employees. This encompasses a discussion of the South African employment law rules relating to recruitment and selection of employees, some of the rules applicable to the day-to-day management of employees, and the rules relating to termination of employment that may be (in)directly influenced by considerations of neurodiversity. The focus thereafter shifts to consider the legal principles of employment discrimination law, where it is found that the listed ground of disability and an unlisted arbitrary ground may potentially be used as the applicable grounds of discrimination by employees if they are prejudiced due to their neurodiverse characteristics. In addition, the possibility that the rules on reasonable accommodation may be utilised as primary mechanism to properly regulate neurodiversity in the work environment and protect against prejudicial treatment of employees due to their inherent personal neurodiverse characteristics is also considered. The South African position and potential employment law rules that may apply to the management of neurodiversity in the work environment is compared to the position in the United Kingdom by focusing on the meaning of disability, the right to reasonable adjustments, and the right to request flexible working arrangements. Finally, the conclusions that may be drawn from this study are emphasised and are followed by some recommendations on how (reasonable) accommodation of neurodiversity in the work environment may appropriately be used as primary mechanism to provide employees with sufficient and appropriate protection of differences in neurodiverse characteristics. Even though this study focuses on neurodiversity and neurological differences between employees, the principles and recommendations from this study may be of value in relation to the appropriate management and regulation of all inherent differences between employees.