New Zealand: new entitlements for employees affected by domestic violence

On 25 July 2018, New Zealand finalised legislation that will give workers who are victims of domestic violence the right to paid leave and other employment law protections. The Domestic Violence – Victims’ Protection Bill has passed its third reading in Parliament and will come into force on 1 April 2019. The Bill provides for flexible working for victims of domestic violence, ten days’ domestic…

New Zealand: Employment Law Reforms Announced

Following the general election in September last year, the new Government has signaled changes to legislation governing the 90-day trial period for new employees. These changes differ from the measures proposed under Labour’s election policy, which included the introduction of referees who would be able to reinstate or award limited damages to employees unjustifiably dismissed during a trial period. 90-day trial periods The Government’s Bill…

New Zealand: Availability Provisions

In August the Employment Court released its first decision on so-called ‘availability provisions’, whereby an employee must be on standby to work any hours the employer requires them to work, but on the other hand, they can only work if the employer gives them work to do. This arrangement is common in ‘zero-hours contracts’ and section 67D of the Employment Relations Act 2000 was introduced…

New Zealand Select Committee on the Employment Standards Bill

New Zealand Parliament’s Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee issued its report on the Employment Standards Legislation Bill on 12 February 2016.  The intent of the Bill is to “make workplaces fairer and more productive for both employees and employers” in three respects: Prohibiting certain “unfair employment practices”, being the so-called ‘zero hour contracts’. Expanding eligibility for parental leave and increasing flexibility of the parental leave…

New Zealand: Announcement on pay equity

Today, the government has announced it will update the Equal Pay Act 1972 and amend the Employment Relations Act 2000 to implement recommendations on pay equity.  This announcement signals a significant change to how pay equity claims will be dealt with and has important consequences for employers, especially in female dominated industries. Background Pay equity has come to prominence as a result of legal action…