The Government has announced that it intends to make a number of changes to employment laws to prohibit unfair practices in the workplace, including the use of “zero hour” contracts. Zero hour contracts are employment arrangements where the employee does not have a set number of hours per week but has to remain available to…
DetailsOn 06 March 2015 The Employment Relations Amendment Act came into effect. The key changes include:- The Employment Relations Authority has time frames to make determinations; and There are significant and profound changes to collective bargaining which include, parties being able to opt out of multi employer bargaining, removing the 30-day rule for new…
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We appeared recently in the Employment Court representing a group of Cathay Pacific pilots who are based in New Zealand, but spend most of their working time outside of New Zealand. Their employment contract specified that their employment was subject to the laws of Hong Kong. Their employment conditions contained a mandatory retirement age of…
DetailsIn Grace Team Accounting v Brake the Court of Appeal was asked to consider issues of redundancy for the first time in many years. The Court of Appeal held that Section 103(A) has significantly changed the law on redundancy, and what was required now was strict adherence to the requirements for disclosure of information and…
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On 19 August 2014 we appeared in the Supreme Court on behalf of LSG Sky Chefs NZ Limited, in an appeal from the Court of Appeal relating to how a transferring employee’s accrued contractual obligations such holiday and sick pay are to be dealt with in a Part 6(A) transfer. The issue involved one party…
DetailsIn a Decision of 27 February 2014, the Human Rights Review Tribunal of New Zealand determined that as part of the employer’s obligation, it was required to disclose the C.V.’s and personal information of other applicants regarding an unsuccessful Applicant who was alleging he was discriminated against on the basis of age. The Tribunal stated…
DetailsThe Transport and Industrial Relations Committee reported back to Parliament late last year and the Government has indicated its proposed reconsiderations to the Amendment Bill. To summarise the Amendment Bill:- Clarifies disclosure requirements Provides for a new process to terminate collective bargaining There is also a new procedure to provide for an employer deciding to…
DetailsWe have enclosed some notes from a recent client meeting regarding some of the new and stricter legal liabilities for managers and directors of businesses.
We will keep clients informed about next year’s legal changes as the legislation becomes law.
For further information please contact us.
17/10/13 Murdered at work The District Court at Waitakere, on 14 October 2013, issued a long-awaited Decision regarding a security guard who was murdered at his place of work on his first night of employment. We successfully defended the Employer, CNE Security Limited, which faced a number of charges, some of which were…
DetailsAs a result of the Royal Commission, the Government is proposing some significant reforms of our Health & Safety Legislation. A new Government department is to be established called WorkSafe NZ and will be a standalone identity rather than simply an arm of the Department of Labour which it has been for generations.…
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