Today's Labour News

News24 reports that Lyra Southern Africa, a prominent provider of employee mental health services and known for its women empowerment accolades, is facing backlash for its handling of sexual harassment complaints.

Recently lauded as the Top Women Business in Health and Pharmaceutical 2023 at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards, the company's reputation has been knocked by at least one incident of sexual assault in the workplace. One of the company’s employees in its Sandton office, Kevin Cupido, was found guilty by the Randburg Magistrate's Court of sexually assaulting a female colleague at work in 2021. Despite his conviction in May, he apparently remains employed at the company. His sentencing has been postponed until August. The complainant, a former female employee, said Cupido was a "very flirtatious guy". During a lunch break and in front of another colleague, Cupido hugged her tightly, pressing her against him and lifting her off the ground. Criminal charges were laid against him and management offered the victim counselling and encouraged her to open a case. But, it did not take disciplinary steps against Cupido. He charged with sexual assault and convicted. In December 2019 in another matter, an employee claimed she was raped after her drink was spiked at a company function. A rape case was opened in January 2020 and it was taken to court, but not enrolled. According to the woman concerned, the company fired her after the incident for allegedly "making false accusations of sexual harassment against fellow employees". She took her case to the CCMA, which ultimately dismissed it.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24

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