Top South African company denies allegations of ruthless workplace rules
Leading vehicle tracking company Cartrack has denied allegations that workers in its Johannesburg office face poor and hostile conditions.
Cartrack is a leading global telematics provider for vehicle tracking, fleet optimisation, stolen recovery, and driver safety.
Founded in 2004 in South Africa, it operates in over 20 countries with over 2.4 million active subscribers.
The company, a 100% subsidiary of Karooooo Ltd, employs just over 7,000 staff and has employed over 1,000 new staff in just the the last 12 months.
Recently, it has come under online scrutiny after a wave of allegations from current and former employees painted a grim picture of its Rosebank office.
One former employee’s recent TikTok video has gone viral, amassing tens of thousands of views within 48 hours.
The clip accuses Cartrack of maintaining a “toxic” and “abusive” workplace, prompting social media users to urge the Department of Employment and Labour to investigate.
The whistleblower alleges draconian rules and a culture of fear, claiming staff are barred from using elevators, forbidden from speaking while using the stairs, and face warnings or dismissal for these minor infractions.
“Staff even hold signs telling you not to talk. One colleague had a written warning for wishing a co-worker a good weekend on the stairs.”
Another former employee, speaking to Newsday on condition of anonymity, complained that the canteen for its lower-level staff is in a parking lot.
HR is accused of ignoring complaints, leaving staff feeling like “cogs in a machine,” while many allegedly suffer from anxiety and burnout.
Cartrack’s Rosebank office has drawn mixed online reviews, with ratings of 3/5 on Indeed and 2.7/5 on Glassdoor.
Conditions for our staff unparalleled to anything – Cartrack
In response to queries from Newsday, Cartrack strongly denied the allegations.
“We recently moved into a new building in Rosebank which has conditions for our staff unparalleled to anything we have ever had before or that most companies have,” said the company.
“The plans for our canteen have been approved, and construction companies have been appointed, with building work about to begin. In the interim, we have provided a temporary solution to staff, which they are aware is a temporary arrangement.”
When asked about the allegations about staff being barred from using elevators and forbidden from speaking while using the stairs, Cartrack said that the building was designed as a walking building “to support a healthy and efficient workplace.”
“To ensure smooth movement across our four floors and a healthy working environment, all management and staff are expected to use the stairs,” said Cartrack.
“To prevent echoing through the building and contact centres, we have deemed the stair case a silent zone.”
The company added that the stairs were designed to accommodate high foot traffic between the floors, with multiple staircases.
“Employees with medical conditions, injuries, or pregnancy are given special concessions. We have a work from home policy for all employees with disabilities and if they choose to come to the office, they work on the ground floor.”
Cartrack said that 97% of its staff is under 40 years old and “are fully in favour of this positive health initiative.”
About alleged complaints, the company said that the internal HR department has received no complaints from any staff of this nature.
“Cartrack remains fully committed to providing a safe, respectful, and health-conscious workplace where all employees can perform at their best, and provide the best possible service to our 2 million customers.”
“We value constructive feedback and continuously strive to improve the employee experience as we complete the final stages of our head-office development,” concluded the company.
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I’m sure going to sell my shares from Karooo…I’m sure there are enough racists waiting to buy them up. Can’t be supporting an abusive company