Page - Our Perspective
Our Perspective
Our thoughts on the latest employment news and inspiration for better engagement at work – from policy changes, trends in human resources best practice, and recent cases.
Holiday Act Taskforce Recommendations
February 2021 – The Government has announced its decision to accept all of the changes recommended by the Holidays Act Taskforce…
Redeployment
February 2021 – One of the issues that we often see coming up in restructuring and redundancy situations is redeployment. When disestablishing a role, does the employer have to offer the affected employee a vacant role (either existing or new) within the organisation?…
Privacy Bill comes into force on 1 December 2020
July 2020 – The Privacy Bill passed its third and final reading last week and will come into force on 1 December 2020…
Triangular Employment Amendment Act 2019 comes into force on 27 June 2020
June 2020 – Employees and employers will now be able to join “controlling third parties” to personal grievance claims…
Budget 2020
15 May 2020 – The government announced yesterday it will spend $50 billion over the next four years on getting the New Zealand economy moving again.
COVID 19 – Employer obligations at Alert Level 3
April 2020 – Last week the Government announced that a decision on whether to move New Zealand’s alert level will be made later today….
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
March 2020 – With the recent outbreak of coronavirus in NZ, it is important that employers are monitoring information about the virus…
Large penalties for breaches of minimum employment standards
March 2020 – The MBIE website Employment New Zealand reports that breaches of New Zealand’s minimum employment standards …
Government work plan to prevent workplace bullying and harrassment
March 2020 – Workplace bullying and harassment was the subject of a recent select committee hearing. Following questioning from National MP Nikki Kaye…
Immigration resident visa application prioritisation changes
March 2020 – From 24 February 2020, Immigration New Zealand has made changes to how it prioritises Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and Residence from Work…
Access to information during a bullying investigation
February 2020 – The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has issued advice regarding complainants’ rights to access personal information during the…
Contractor consultation closes on 14 February 2020
February 2020 – The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) released a discussion document in November 2019 looking at…
Personal Grievance compensation award tables
February 2020 – MBIE has recently released its 6 month report (Jul – Dec 2019) detailing the levels of compensation awarded by the Employment Relations Authority…
Minimum wage increase
February 2020 – The minimum wage will rise to $18.90 per hour effective 1 April 2020…
Fair pay agreements system
Dec 2019 – An August 2019 discussion paper outlines options for a new system to allow workers and employers…
Temporary migrant worker exploitation review
Dec 2019 – Research by Ministry of Business and Innovation (MBIE) on temporary migrant worker exploitation was announced…
Better protection for contractors
Dec 2019 – MBIE has began looking at options for strengthening rights and protections for vulnerable contractors.
Contractors in the screen industry
Dec 2019 – Following discussion and consultation in 2018, changes will be made to the law to allow contractors working in New Zealand’s…
Welcome Suzie England-Hall
Dec 2019 – Suzie England-Hall has recently joined Douglas Erickson as solicitor now specialising in employment law.
Government discussion document on contractors released for public feedback
Nov 2019 – The Government has recently released a discussion document for public feedback on the rights and protections of contractors in the…
Government Discussion Document on Contractors Released for Public Feedback
Nov 2019 – The Government has recently released a discussion document for public feedback on the rights and protections of contractors…
Triangular Employment – Legislation Update
June 2019 – The Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill has passed…
Pay Equity Claim: What is it?
Oct 2018 – A pay equity claim is a claim that an employee, in a predominantly female role…
Domestic Violence Legislation: Implications for Employers
July 2018 – Employers will now be required to provide additional protections, care and leave…
Employee drug use outside work hours: Mitigating health and safety risks
Jan 2018 – As we come out of the holiday season, many employees will be returning…
Are Compensation Payouts for Personal Greivances on the Rise?
Nov 2017 – The case of Waikato District Health Board v Archibald…
Election 2017: Possible Workplace Relations Implications
Sept 2017 – The general election is now less than two weeks away…
Proposed Pay Equity Legislation Released for Consultation
May 2017 – Pay equity has been in the headlines recently following the Government’s…
Can our private lives impact on an employer’s reputation?
Feb 2017 – I commonly get asked for advice on situations where an employee’s…
New ERA rules around availability provisions
Oct 2016 – Amendments made to the Employment Relations Act 2000 (“ERA”)…
Court of Appeal Scales Back Procedural Fairness Requirements
Sep 2016 – In recent months a handful of decisions from the Employment Court…
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Email: info@douglaserickson.co.nz
Office Locations: Auckland | Cambridge
Post: PO Box 339, Cambridge 3450