Employment Law Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for new zealand businesses.
Managing Contractors and Freelancers in a New Zealand SaaS Business
Hiring contractors and freelancers is common in New Zealand SaaS businesses, but the legal risks are easy to underestimate. This guide explains worker
8 July 2026
What To Do If An Employee Goes On Sick Leave During Redundancy Notice In NZ
Redundancy is rarely straightforward for a small business. Even when you’ve done the right thing (genuine business reasons, a fair process, proper notice), it can still get complicated fast - especially if...
8 July 2026
What References Employers Can Give In New Zealand: Legal Obligations And Best Practice
This article is general information for New Zealand employers only and doesn’t take into account your specific situation. It isn’t legal advice. If you’re dealing with a sensitive reference request or a...
8 July 2026
What Is Severance Pay In New Zealand?
If you’re running a small business, the words “severance pay” can feel a bit loaded. You might be planning a restructure, considering redundancy, or dealing with an unexpected termination situation - and...
7 July 2026
What Is a Factual Reference? Employment Reference Rules in New Zealand
If you’ve ever had a former employee ask for a reference, you’ve probably had the same thought most business owners do: what can I safely say? References feel simple - until you’re...
6 July 2026
What If An Employee’s Non-Working Day Falls On A Public Holiday In NZ?
Public holidays can be a pain point for small businesses - especially once you add rotating rosters, part-time arrangements, casual staff, and “usual” days that aren’t that usual. One of the most...
6 July 2026
What Happens To Unused Sick Leave In New Zealand?
If you employ staff in New Zealand, sick leave is one of those entitlements that’s simple in concept (people take time off when they’re unwell) but surprisingly easy to get wrong in...
5 July 2026Is It Illegal Not to Give Employees a Contract of Employment?
In New Zealand, employers generally must provide every employee with a written employment agreement. This guide explains what needs to be included, when
5 July 2026
What Employers Should Include In NZ Employee Separation Agreements
Even in a great workplace, employment relationships sometimes come to an end. It might be a resignation, a performance exit, a redundancy, or simply a situation where you both agree it’s best...
4 July 2026
What Does “Including Public Holidays” Mean In NZ Employment Agreements?
If you employ staff in New Zealand, you’ve probably seen (or used) the phrase “salary includes public holidays” or “pay is inclusive of public holidays” in an employment agreement. It sounds straightforward,...
3 July 2026
Commission and Bonus Terms for New Zealand Asset Management Software Businesses
Commission and bonus clauses can cause major disputes for New Zealand asset management software businesses if they do not clearly define when payments are
3 July 2026Weekend Shifts: Saturday & Sunday Working Rules In NZ
Note: This article is general information for New Zealand employers and isn’t legal advice. If you need advice on your specific situation, it’s worth getting tailored guidance. For a lot of New...
2 July 2026
Weekend Pay Rules for NZ Employers
If you run a café, retail store, trade business, healthcare service, or any operation that needs weekend cover, it’s normal to wonder what the rules are around weekend pay rates in New...
2 July 2026
Vulnerable Employees In New Zealand: Legal Duties For Employers
Hiring and managing people is one of the biggest growth steps for any small business. It’s also where legal risk can sneak up on you - especially when you’re dealing with employees...
2 July 2026
Voluntary Redundancy In New Zealand: Employer Guide
When business conditions change, reducing headcount can feel like one of the hardest calls you’ll ever make as an employer. That’s why many New Zealand businesses look at voluntary redundancy as a...
2 July 2026
Unsociable Hours And Shift Work In NZ: Employer Duties And Best Practice
Running a business that operates outside the classic 9-to-5 is often where the opportunity is. Early-morning deliveries, late-night hospitality, 24/7 support, weekend retail, security, health services, cleaning, logistics - these models rely...
1 July 2026
Unpaid Work Trials In New Zealand: Employer Rules Before Hiring
Hiring your next team member is a big step - especially when you’re running a small business and every hire has a real impact on customer experience, productivity, and cashflow. That’s why...
1 July 2026
When Are Employers Liable for Staff Actions in New Zealand?
If you run a business in New Zealand and you have staff (or even just one person helping out), you’ve probably had that nagging thought: “What happens if someone I employ messes...
1 July 2026
Unpaid Work Rules In New Zealand: Internships, Trials And Volunteering
You’re trying to grow a small business, and an extra set of hands can make a huge difference. Maybe a student reaches out asking for an internship “for experience”. Maybe you want...
30 June 2026
Unpaid Trial Shifts In New Zealand: Employer Rules And Risks
Hiring can feel like a gamble, especially when you’re running a small business and every wage dollar counts. You want to know whether someone can actually do the job, fit your team,...
30 June 2026
Unpaid Training In New Zealand: Employer Compliance Requirements
Training is one of the best investments you can make in your team - it improves performance, reduces mistakes, and helps you deliver a better customer experience. But when you’re a small...
30 June 2026
Unpaid Leave In New Zealand Employment Law
If you employ staff in New Zealand, it won’t be long before someone asks for time off that isn’t covered by annual leave, sick leave, bereavement leave, or another paid entitlement. That’s...
30 June 2026
Unpaid Leave And Public Holidays In New Zealand: Employer Obligations
If you employ staff in New Zealand, you’ll eventually run into tricky leave questions that don’t neatly fit into annual leave or sick leave. A common one is: what happens when an...
30 June 2026Unjustified Dismissal Under The Employment Relations Act 2000 In NZ
Ending someone’s employment is one of the toughest parts of running a small business. You might be dealing with poor performance, repeated lateness, serious misconduct, or a restructure you didn’t plan for...
30 June 2026
Need help with your business legals?
Speak with Sprintlaw to get practical legal support and fixed-fee options tailored to your business.