STAY IN THE KNOW
What type of Employment Agreement should I use over the Holiday Period?
During the holiday period, some companies wind down, while others, especially those in hospitality or retail, experience increased activity.
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.
Rethinking Professional Dress Codes in Today’s Workplace
In an era where workplace dynamics are rapidly evolving, traditional professional dress codes are being challenged and redefined. This article explores the shifting landscape of office attire, examining how companies are adapting to more inclusive and flexible dress policies.
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.
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,
Election News and more
Now is a prudent time to update you all that as an employer you must give your employees time off to vote in the general (parliamentary) election on polling day (Saturday 14 October) if:
they are (or are qualified to be) registered as an elector of the district where the election is, and
they haven’t had a reasonable opportunity to vote before starting work.
The amount of time an employee can have off to vote depends on whether they are required for essential work or services.
Unless your employees are in essential service that have to work after 3pm, you must allow them to leave work no later than 3pm, for the rest of the day without deductions from their pay.
If they don’t have to work after 3pm on the polling day for essential work or services, you must allow your employees reasonable time to get to vote, therefore 3pm is the latest for the rest of the day without deductions from their pay for this time off work.
If they are required to work for essential work or services after 3pm on the polling day you must allow them to leave work for a reasonable time to vote. You can’t make any deductions from their pay for time up to 2 hours that they spend off work.
If you do not comply to these regulations, you could be fined $1000 per employee.
If you have any questions on how this might relate to you, do not hesitate to get in touch.
Reserve Bank Predictions 2023
Last week Reserve Bank Governor Orr predicted a very difficult year ahead. Recession in 2023 and minimal growth in the first half of 2024. Despite the inflationary pressure, low unemployment figures have been heralded by the government as an indicator that New Zealand is in reasonable shape. Adrian Orr’s message changed that with unemployment – currently 3.3% - predicted to rise to 5.7% in 2025.
COVID-19 Update - Alert Level Changes & Vaccines and Employment
Vaccine Certificates
Little information has been released about vaccination certificates and how this system will work when close contact businesses such as hairdressers and hospitality can reopen under the traffic light system.
What we do know is that businesses which are considered to be ‘high risk’ will be required to use the vaccine certificate system, and while the system will be optional for some other businesses, it will not be available for every business.