A recent TVNZ story has highlighted the fact that some employers have begun encouraging staff not to take sick leave by giving them an end of year bonus. What it didn’t discuss is how to deal with employees who continue to come to work, despite being clearly unwell. Those employees often have genuine reasons for continuing to…
We now have some certainty about the future of health and safety law in New Zealand: on Friday the Transport and Industrial Select Committee finally reported back on the Bill. Five of the key changes to the Bill (some of which had been well-rehearsed in the media) include: Employers must still engage with employees and…
An Employment Standards Bill will be introduced to Parliament later in 2015 with measures to prevent unfair employment practices. To read the full statement from Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse, click here.
Ever wondered how much the person delivering those pamphlets to your letterbox gets paid? Labour’s David Parker says not enough: his member’s bill, which would ensure that they are paid at least minimum wage, was drawn from the ballot last week. Currently, people such as couriers, paper and pamphlet deliverers can be paid less than…
For those of you waiting with bated breath for the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee to report to Parliament on the Health and Safety Reform Bill (due on 30 March), you will have to wait a little longer. The committee is not now due to report until 29 May 2015. We will keep you…
On 1 April 2015 the full entitlement to paid parental leave will increase to 16 weeks. This will increase again on 1 April 2016 to 18 weeks. This means the entitlement will align more closely with Australia and the OECD average. Who is entitled to the increase? Those who have an expected due date on…
We are often asked by clients whether a Section 21 Agreement can be certified by a solicitor via Skype (or Facetime/Webcam). Click below to read an interesting article addressing the issues arising when certifying agreements in this manner. s21 Agreements via Skype
If your marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship has ended, then you should be aware that there are statutory time limits for dividing your property. Parties are often able to reach agreement in respect of the division of their property without the need for court assistance. However, in situations where parties do require…
We have recently come across situations where parties have attempted to divide their property without appropriate legal advice. An agreement prepared by the parties and subsequently signed and witnessed by friends, is not a valid agreement. What this means that an invalid agreement does not prevent future claims. In a recent case, the husband and…
