News & Views
Changes to Parental Leave Payment Rates
From 1 July, the maximum parental leave payment has increased from $754.87 to $788.66 gross per week.
Proposed changes to New Zealand Employment Law
Summary of the proposed amendments below along with providing insights into what these proposed amendments mean to employers.
Serious Misconduct Justifies Dismissal Despite Imperfect Process
Morrison v New Zealand Post provides a useful reminder that, in cases of serious misconduct, a dismissal may be upheld even where the employer’s process is less than perfect.
Unilever Wins on Dismissal Process
In a recent decision, the Employment Relations Authority confirmed the long-standing principle that an employer’s decision to dismiss will not be rendered unjustified by minor procedural imperfections, provided the dismissal itself is substantively fair and the overall process meets the test of reasonableness.
Secret Recordings in the Workplace
In a world where phones are always within reach, it’s becoming more common for employees to record conversations. But when it's done in secret, without permission, it crosses a line—and can justify dismissal.
5 Cases Every Employer Should Know in 2025
Staying informed on recent Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court decisions is one of the smartest things an employer can do. Here are five decisions from the past year that have clarified, reinforced, or strengthened employer rights in New Zealand.
King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Kings Birthday - A simple guide to help you manage public holiday pay and entitlements smoothly.
ERA Confirms Dismissal Was Justified
The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) recently ruled on a case involving an employee's dismissal on medical grounds.
Minimum Wage Increase Effective 1 April 2025
As of 1 April 2025, the minimum wage will increase to $23.50 gross per hour, an increase of $0.35 from the current rate of $23.15.
Contractor or Employee – Uber New Zealand
The Court of Appeal ruled that 4 Uber drivers are employees, not independent contractors, by applying the correct legal test.
Closedown Requirements – 14 days’ written notice
If you are planning to have a closedown of all or part of your business during the holiday season, you will need to provide 14 days written notice of your intention to close down.
The Importance of Getting it Right
Recent case law regarding performance management emphasizes the importance of managing risk.
Ensure Your Business Stays Compliant with New Zealand’s Employment Law.
Navigating HR compliance in New Zealand can be complex, with numerous laws and regulations governing employment practices. Here are some key areas of HR compliance:
Transform Your HR
In today’s uncertain economic climate, businesses face unique challenges. From fluctuating markets to rising operational costs, maintaining a competitive edge requires agility and strategic planning.
Contractor or Employee
It is good to see the Minister for Workplace Relations is proposing to provide clarity as to the status of contractors v employees.
Proposed Changes to the Holidays Act 2003
For years, employers have been calling for changes to the Holidays Act 2003 to address its complexities and uncertainties. The good news is that significant reforms are on the horizon that promise to address long-standing issues. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go before these changes are implemented.
Risk mitigation, Restructuring
Restructuring is one of the tools to ensure businesses manage through these challenging economic times.
Working across the ditch - the differences between New Zealand and Australian Employment Law
One of our frequently asked questions pertains to the differences between Australian (AU) and New Zealand (NZ) employment laws.
Having head offices in AU and employees in NZ can pose challenges if you are not familiar with the variations in employment legislation and the requirements of employing staff in these two countries.
While AU and NZ share many common principles, there are key differences that if overlooked, can lead to complications and real implications for offshore AU businesses.
We aim to break down these differences for those of you in this situation.
New Government, New Employment Law
All business are now able to utilise the 90-day trial period even if you employ 20 or more people.
We discuss below the benefits of including a 90-day trial period clause in your employment agreement, as well as potential pitfalls you may encounter.
Christmas and Annual Leave
As we approach the holiday season it is the time of year for annual closedowns, Christmas parties but for some companies it can be the busiest time of year.
We get a lot of questions around Christmas party management, absenteeism, your ability to request employees to take annual leave and employment agreements therefore, we have prepared some guidance for you,