Professional background and experience:

Corlie has been active in the labour relations field and worked as a labour consultant across multiple industries since 2004. She started her labour relations career working at corporate companies before becoming a consultant. This has given her the ability to look at labour-related issues through the eyes of both the employee and the employer.  She provides small, medium and larger companies with effective solutions while being guided by the BCEA, LRA, Sectoral Determinations and other relevant legislation.

Corlie has experience in facilitating training, chairing disciplinary hearings, conducting workplace investigations, acting as an initiator at hearings, mediating, negotiating settlement agreements and representing clients at the CCMA and other dispute resolution entities. She has also represented companies and employers organisations at the CCMA and bargaining councils. She is fluent in English and Afrikaans and can communicate at all levels. She is comfortable with working with employees regardless of their level of seniority.  

Mediation experience and style:

Corlie is a Conflict Dynamics accredited mediator. She has a facilitative mediation style and she encourages parties to find their own solutions without making recommendations or trying to influence the outcome. She is particularly experienced in workplace mediation processes.

Facilitation experience and style:

Corlie has facilitated numerous dispute resolution meetings such as negotiating settlement agreements, union negotiations and facilitated employment equity meetings. She has facilitated retrenchment processes, section 197 transfers and negotiations with regards to changing employment conditions. 

Chairing enquiries and investigations experience:

Corlie has chaired disciplinary hearings and acted as an initiator (investigator). The same level of care and preciseness is always taken, whether the case is simple or very complicated.

Coaching experience and style:

Given Corlie’s extensive experience as a labour relations consultant, she is well placed to coach people on labour-related matters.

Comments from clients:

“During my tenure at Safilo SA (a multinational distributor of eyewear) and Hoya Hill Optics SA (a multinational manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses) Corlie facilitated various activities, such as: negotiations with unions with regards to strike action; changing employees’ employment conditions; handling grievance sessions; facilitating disciplinary and retrenchment processes and running the Employment Equity Committee (Hoya Hill Optics). None of the employees who were involved in any of these processes referred their cases to the CCMA during the time that Corlie assisted me due to any procedural or substantive issues.“

“I was the Financial and Admin Manager in charge of the HR departments of these companies and Corlie assisted me in handling very difficult scenarios and employee challenges. She could be relied on to make contact swiftly, even if it was after normal office hours. While facilitating these different processes, I could always count on Corlie to be professional, fair and respectful while applying her vast HR and IR knowledge. I can testify that each company was in a far superior level of HR collaboration after these improvements/housekeeping elements were introduced.” - Daniel Joubert

“I was struggling with workplace conflict between two employees recently and Corlie de Witt was recommended to me as “the best consultant in the area.” I contacted her and she promptly made a telephonic appointment with me to discuss the matter. The employees agreed to a mediation process and a settlement was reached after a few hours. Both the parties were satisfied with the outcome. The process was handled by Corlie de Witt in a proficient and empathetic manner. While there was a difference in power between the two parties, she treated both parties in the same way. After assisting the School with this conflict, Corlie de Witt has assisted me with other staff related matters.” - Owner of a Nursery School