Construction World February 2022

MARKET PLACE

JOHNSON CONTROLS ANNOUNCES GRADUATION CLASS AND SECOND INTAKE OF LEARNERS

Johnson Controls International (JCI), a Multinational Building Technology company that designs, manufactures and installs systems in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), including Smart Building technology has announced the Graduation Class of 2021. This successful milestone is followed by the start of its second annual local Learnership initiative, designed to address the dearth of skills in the local HVAC market.

T he programme was launched last year with a focus on developing human capacity and empowerment through the development of technical skills in South Africa. Last year, Johnson Controls successfully enrolled a total of 25 learners in the inaugural programme and has hailed the initiative a resounding success. The Learnership provides young people from underprivileged communities from all walks of life an

opportunity to gain HVAC skills, which in turn increases the skills pool and promotes diversity within the industry. The initiative is driven by Archie Makatini, (Regional General Manager) for the Sub-Saharan Africa region, in partnership with Lynn Millin (his HR partner) and the program focuses on skills development that enables learners to build a foundation to pursue careers in the HVAC industry. Makatini and Millin both proudly noted that last year’s

COPING WITH ADDICTION IN THE WORKPLACE

T he pandemic lockdowns of 2020 were tough and tight, with the government clamping down on smoking and drinking. As a result, many people turned to other forms of substance abuse as a way of coping. Now, after a more than a year of remote working, employees are returning to the office with additional issues that were either not there before the pandemic, or made worse by it. According to Nicol Myburgh, Head: HCM Business Unit at CRS Technologies, this puts the company in

The policy should unpack what the company defines as substance abuse and what happens if an employee is caught. In environments such as manufacturing where employees are required to operate heavy machinery, they could present a clear and present danger if they are intoxicated, but this wouldn’t necessarily be the case in the corporate environment. “Addiction is also now classified as a disease, so it’s less of a discipline issue and more of an incapacity,” says Myburgh. “If someone has a disease

a tough position. “From a legal perspective, a company can’t enforce a rule if they don’t have it in the first place, so draft a policy around substance abuse that clearly outlines what the company stance is, and what its obligations are,” he advises. “You need to be mindful of how substance abuse can impact on other people as well as on safety, and the policy has to reflect all these elements. It has to make sense for the specific industry or vertical in which your company operates.”

6 CONSTRUCTION WORLD FEBRUARY 2022