This week the Employment Court handed down a landmark decision relating to three former members of the Gloriavale Christian community. While this case might seem extreme or unusual it is a timely reminder for employers to consider who is working for them, and whether they have the right agreements in place. Who is an employee?…
For a long time, employers in New Zealand have complained of ‘shake-down’ type claims, where a disgruntled former employee raises a personal grievance which has very little prospect of success, hoping that the employer will pay them a settlement sum to avoid the cost and inconvenience of having to defend the claim in the Employment…
With New Zealand now in the Covid-19 traffic light system, employers want certainty in relation to leave entitlements and payments for employees that must isolate. To understand what entitlements employees have, it is essential for employers to first understand how long their employee will be expected to isolate. Current isolation requirements Cases identified via a…
With New Zealand now in the Covid-19 traffic light system, employers want certainty in relation to leave entitlements and payments for employees that must isolate. To understand what entitlements employees have, it is essential for employers to first understand how long their employee will be expected to isolate. Current isolation requirements Employees may be required…
A recent Court of Appeal decision found that the Directors of Southern Taxis Ltd were personally liable for the unpaid minimum entitlements of Southern Taxi’s employees. The judgment confirmed that a director of a company may be held personally liable for a breach of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (the Act) where they have knowledge…
One of the employment law reforms proposed by the Government was the introduction of “Fair Pay Agreements” (FPAs). An FPA would set minimum employment terms and conditions for all workers in the industry or sector covered by the agreement. This means that employers and employees could still agree on better pay and conditions than are…
On 24 May 2021, the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Act 2021 (“the Act”) received the Royal Assent. It comes into force on 24 July 2021. What does this mean? Effect of Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Act 2021 From 24 July 2021: The minimum entitlement to paid sick leave in New Zealand will increase…
Employers need to be aware of what changes are here and what lies ahead, particularly in relation to employees’ leave and the report of the Holidays Act Working Group. Holidays (Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage) Amendment Employees will now have the right to take up to three days’ paid bereavement leave if they or their partner…
NZ moves to alert level 3 at 11.59pm Monday 27th April, so we have outlined what this means in practical terms for businesses able to get back to work. What Level 3 means in simple terms: If your business can be conducted from home, you must continue to do this unless it is not possible. …