Sibeso M. Kumwenda

PROBATION PERIOD..📍

So you have finally aced those interviews and been offered your dream job. What comes next???
Then begins the relationship between an employer and the employee. The probation period can be seen as a work test period that is for the benefit of both the employer and employee. This is because this is the time that your employer asses your performance and if you are the right fit for the job and it is your chance to prove that you deserve this job or ascertain if u really want the job.

Here are a few pointers on probation…

✅for probation to apply, it must be explicitly provided for in the employment contract.

✅where a contract of employment does not include a provision on probation, an employee CANNOT be dismissed for failing to perform satisfactorily during probation.

✅by law, probation period SHOULD NOT exceed a period of 3 months. However, an employer can choose to extend the probation period if still not satisfied with one’s performance WITH THE EMPLOYEES CONSENT provided the extension does not exceed 3momths.

✅assessment of performance has to be taken and the result needs to be communicated to the employee.

✅should an employer or employee wish to terminate a contract during probation period, 24hrs notice must be given by the employer along with a valid reason in this regard. (Reason cannot be because you dislike the person.)

✅lack of communication thereof of the probation period to an employee means the employee will be deemed to have been confirmed from the end of the probation periods.

✅employees on probation must be given the chance to be heard prior to being terminated.

✅during probation, an employee is entitled to statutory benefits and protection such as protection against unfair discrimination…

Hope this information is helpful.😌

Picture guests credit📸: Chanda Chansa Chumba Yangeni Chendela

YourFavoriteHR

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Monday Mindset 📍

A new week brings with it fresh opportunities, to learn, to grow, and to lead.
Leadership isn’t just about titles or positions; it’s about the daily choices we make to show up with integrity, courage, and consistency.

It also means new chances to show up, learn, and grow.
You don’t have to have it all figured out, just take the next right step.

As we step into this week, let’s remember:

✔️ Great leaders don’t have all the answers — they create environments where others can thrive.

✔️ Motivation fades, but discipline and purpose keep you moving forward.

✔️ The way you start your Monday often sets the tone for how you’ll finish your Friday.

✔️ Be intentional about how you start your week.

✔️ Prioritize what truly matters.

✔️ Keep your attitude in check — it shapes everything that follows.

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a project, or simply leading yourself through personal goals, show up intentionally. Lead with empathy, act with clarity, and carry faith that the seeds you’re planting today will produce results in due season.

Let’s make this a week of impact, growth, and gratitude.

YourFavoriteHR

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DID YOU KNOW????💡💡💡

We are back!!!!!!!!🥳🥳

So it’s been a hectic couple of months, drowning in work and all but we are officially back with our Did you know Fridays.

To jump start our sessions, Did you know that an employer has the legal right to terminate your contract for lacking skill You said you had???

📝According to Section 50(1)(c) of the Enployment code Act, an employer shall dismiss an employee “for lack of skill which the employee EXPRESSLY OR IMPLIEDLY, is warranted to possess..”

📝Expressly meaning skills you are clearly expected to have.

📝Impliedly meaning skills you may have expressed or indicated or suggested that you have without being direct about them.

Careful therefore what skills and abilities you sell yourself to have during your interviews. Stick to selling what you can actually do and state that you are open to learning where you are not sure..

Happy Friday😊.

PS: Did you know facts will now be posted every Friday at 9am.

YourFavoriteHR

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SERVING NOTICE…,.📑📑

So we have already determined that depending on the stage that you are at in your employment, notice given differs as you are either still on probation which requires different notice compared to someone who is past the probation period.

So you finally decide to leave your employers, here are a few tips on how to successfully serve your notice period..

✅Giving notice is simply you informing your employer that you will be leaving in a certain amount of time… read that again, a certain amount of time, meaning for the time that you are still around be it 24hrs or longer, you still have an obligation as an employee to your employer to continue serving your employer diligently.

✅all tasks assigned as well as other pending tasks will still need to be performed diligently..

✅Ensure that you have handover notes properly written down.. even verbal handovers must be done in such a way that it will be easy for the next person to pick up from where you left off. Do not make it difficult for the next person.

✅ Don't let a change in team spirit affect you. You may not be invited to team meetings discussing future endeavors or other important meetings, team lunches, etc especially if you are joining a competing organization.

✅be grateful

✅serving your notice isn’t a time for you to now bad mouth an organisation. You have your reasons for leaving,present them to management but do not make a work environment toxic for those you are leaving behind.

✅ Don't leave on a sour note
There might be reasons for you to have negative feelings towards certain aspects of your organization, but letting it out while serving notice period is not the way to go.

✅Be professional and respectful in all communications with your employer and coworkers during this period.

✅Fulfill all job responsibilities and commitments until your last day of work.

✅Your current soon to be ex employer is not your enemy.

✅ Don't engage in any negative behavior or actions that could damage your reputation or relationships with your current employer. You will still need their reference..

✅Don't take advantage of the notice period by slacking off or neglecting your work. You still need to work.

✅Remember that an employer has a right during your notice period to place you on leave to serve off the rest of your leave should they feel it would better suit the company. This is referred to as Garden leave.

Serve your notice the right way..And don’t burn bridges.

Picture guests credit📸: ZCAS student union presidents😊😊

YourFavoriteHR

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✨ One Year of Growth, Learning, and Impact ✨

Today marks exactly one year since I took a bold step in my HR journey, transitioning from HR Specialist Recruitment to HR Generalist. And what a transformative year it has been!🥳🥳🥹

This past year has been about stretching beyond the familiar, embracing new challenges, and gaining a deeper appreciation for what it truly means to manage the full HR function, from strategy to structure, from people to policy, from recruitment and onboarding to performance, engagement, and compliance.

It’s been a journey of learning, leading, and balancing the heart of HR, ensuring that people, culture, and business goals move in sync. I’ve grown not only in skill but in perspective, learning that HR is as much about empathy and influence as it is about systems and structure.

I remain deeply grateful to my current employer and CEO for the trust and opportunity to serve in this expanded capacity. 🙏🏽

To you Dr. Carol Hachandi Lupiya CGMA, MBA, thank you for your patience with me and providing me with the training I needed. The exposure, collaboration, and confidence that come from handling the full HR spectrum have been nothing short of enriching.

To my colleagues, mentors, and the leaders I work alongside, thank you for your support, encouragement, and partnership in making every milestone achievable. You’ve each contributed to this chapter of growth in one way or another.

Here’s to continued growth, meaningful impact, and staying true to the purpose that drives us in this profession, building workplaces where people and performance thrive together.

YourFavoriteHR
HRThatMasteredLaw
HRSocialMediaVisibilityChampion💕

Grateful for Opportunities to impact young professionals 🥹😊📍

Last evening, I had the privilege of facilitating a session on Professional Skills under the 2025 EGYD IGNITE Training Program hosted by Educating Girls and Young Women for Development (EGYD), a platform nurturing Zambia’s next generation of trailblazers and impact-driven leaders.

Our discussion focused on building professional excellence, from crafting standout CVs and cover letters to mastering workplace etiquette, communication, and interview confidence. The energy in the room was absolutely amazing! The participants were engaged, curious, and full of ideas which was a true reflection of the passion and potential driving Zambia’s future professionals.

A heartfelt thank you to all participants who showed up with such enthusiasm and openness to learn. I’d love to hear from you, what were some of your key takeaways from our session? 💬

And a special thanks to the EGYD Team and My mock interview panalist Genius Mapalo Mukuka for the second invite and for the warm welcome, creating such a dynamic and empowering space for growth and connection.

Here’s to igniting potential, shaping futures, and leading with impact!

YourFavoriteHR
HRThatMasteredLaw
HRSocialMediaVisibilityChampion💕

Graduate Confidence and Mindset — The Overlooked Employability Factor 🎓💡

I’m excited to be joining the GLK Experience Webinar this Wednesday, 30th October 2025, where I’ll be speaking on “Graduate Confidence and Mindset: An Overlooked Employability Factor.”

Too often, we focus on technical skills, qualifications, and experience — yet overlook one of the most powerful enablers of employability: mindset.
Confidence and self-awareness can shape how graduates navigate interviews, workplace transitions, and even setbacks. It’s not always about what’s on paper, but what you carry in presence, attitude, and belief.

I look forward to unpacking this important conversation with fellow professionals and graduates alike.

🗓 Date: 30th October 2025
🕐 Time: 12:45 – 13:45 Hrs
💻 Platform: Zoom
🎤 Host: GLK Experience

JOB SEEKERS TOOLKIT📍📍

Hard Work During Internships…📌📌

Internships are more than just a temporary placement, they’re a preview of your professional potential.

Here are a few reminders to make the most of every internship opportunity:

✔️ Take up internship opportunities – Some are short-term, but others open doors you never saw coming.

✔️ Put in your all – Be willing to learn, contribute, and take on assignments with excellence.

✔️ Deliver results – Treat every task as a reflection of your future work ethic.

✔️ Remember: You often have more to prove during an internship than during probation. When you’re on probation, you already have the job; during an internship, you’re showing why you should be the one to get it.

✔️ Be punctual – Time management says a lot about your professionalism and reliability.

✔️ Set personal deadlines – Don’t wait to be reminded; hold yourself accountable and meet your goals.

Don’t underestimate the power of an internship. Your consistency, humility, and determination could be the bridge to your next big opportunity.

Apply for those internships and show up ready to grow! 💪

Photo guests credit: Levy Mwansa Phaides Mukabila Mekelani Tembo

YourFavoriteHR

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💭 When Leadership Becomes the Blind Spot

So during our group assignment on our boat cruise this past weekend, I remember opening up to the team on a few challenges I face in my career. And I vividly remember how Iness Kamudole’s feedback was on the importance of having difficult conversations in organizations. That conversation inspired this post..

Sometimes, it’s not the system that’s broken, it’s the leadership driving it.

It’s not the employees lacking motivation, it’s the tone being set from the top.

And it’s not the team’s culture that’s toxic, it’s the behavior that’s quietly being tolerated.

The hardest truth in leadership?

Change rarely happens from the bottom up.
Because when the problem is at the top, even the best talent, strategy, or vision won’t save the organization.

📍When leadership refuses to self-reflect, innovation stalls.

📍When accountability is selective, trust erodes.

📍When decisions are made in silos, collaboration dies quietly.

And when people feel unheard, even the most capable teams lose their spark.

Great leaders don’t just fix what’s visible, they have the courage to look in the mirror and ask:

• “Am I the bottleneck?”

• “What tone am I setting?”

• “What am I allowing to continue?”

Because leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about creating an environment where the truth can be spoken safely.
It’s about recognizing that culture, performance, and morale all reflect the choices made at the top.

Real leadership starts when accountability sits where authority lives.

What’s one leadership behavior you think organizations should unlearn to build healthier cultures?

PS: Even in the midst of playing, an element of critical thinking just has to come in😂🤣🙈

YourFavoriteHR

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Because work should also feel good☺️😊📍

There’s something beautiful about being surrounded by people who bring both purpose and joy to what they do. ✨

This moment right here reminds me that work doesn’t always have to feel heavy, it can be meaningful and fun when you’re with the right people. The laughter, the shared ideas, the quiet confidence that comes from knowing everyone is contributing to something bigger than themselves… that’s where real impact begins.

Too often, we think professional success only happens in serious spaces yet, some of the best work is born out of joy, connection, and genuine collaboration. When a team believes in what they do, it shows in how they show up not just for the job, but for each other.

When passion aligns with purpose, even ordinary days become impactful. And moments like this remind me why culture, teamwork, and authenticity matter so deeply in the workplace.

Here’s to teams that uplift, conversations that inspire, and leaders who create environments where both excellence and laughter can thrive. 💙

YourFavoriteHR

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✨ Titans on the Lake! ✨

This past weekend, the Titans community took a well-deserved break from the boardrooms and brainstorming sessions and set sail for Siavonga 🌊 a refreshing getaway filled with connection, laughter, and shared inspiration.

From the scenic boat cruise to the genuine conversations that flowed effortlessly, every moment reminded us that leadership is not just about strategy and performance, it’s also about people, relationships, and the power of shared experiences.

We often spend our days driving results, solving problems, and championing innovation, but moments like these remind us that taking time to pause and reconnect is equally important. It’s in these relaxed spaces that new ideas are born, bonds are strengthened, and a renewed sense of purpose takes shape.

Grateful to the Titans Executive Committee for organizing such an incredible experience one that truly captured the spirit of community, excellence, and celebration that defines who we are. Your commitment to creating opportunities that nurture both our professional and personal growth is truly appreciated.

Here’s to more memories, meaningful conversations, and moments that recharge us to keep making an impact. 💙

YourFavoriteHR

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On Salary Negotiations📍

“The first step in negotiating a higher pay is to look the part.” 💼

I couldn’t agree more with this!
Whether in business or during a job search, your presentation speaks before your words do.

Looking the part isn’t just about dressing well, it’s about showing up with confidence, preparation, and clarity about your value.

✅ It’s in how you communicate your achievements.

✅ It’s in how you understand the market and your worth.

✅ It’s in how you position yourself before the opportunity even arrives.

When you carry yourself as a 1 million prospect, you’ll attract conversations, opportunities, and pay scales that match that energy.

So as you prepare for your next interview, presentation, or client pitch, show up like the version of yourself that’s already there.

YourFavoriteHR

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