Employment Law Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for new zealand businesses.
What Are The Differences Between Casual And Part-Time Employees? (2026 Updated)
If you’re hiring your first team member (or trying to make your staffing more flexible), it’s normal to wonder whether you should bring someone on as a casual employee or a part-time...
5 January 2025
It Wasn’t Me, It Was My Employee: What You Need To Know About Employers’ Liability (2026 Updated)
It’s one of those stomach-drop moments as a business owner: you get a complaint, a demand letter, or an angry email, and the story starts with “your staff member said…” or “your...
5 January 2025
Criticising Your Boss On Social Media: What’s Legal? (2026 Updated)
Social media makes it easy to vent. A bad shift, a tough conversation with your manager, or a workplace change you didn’t see coming can all lead to that “I’m just going...
5 January 2025
Can Employees Be Forced To Take Annual Leave? (2026 Updated)
You’ve probably been here before: business is quiet, you’re trying to manage cashflow, or you’re shutting down over Christmas/New Year. Then you look at your payroll and see a few team members...
5 January 2025
Should You Download A Template Or Get A Lawyer? (2026 Updated)
You’re about to sign a contract, launch a website, hire your first employee, or bring on a business partner - and you’ve found a “free template” that looks pretty close to what...
5 January 2025
Do I Need To Pay My Staff A Minimum Rate If They Are Being Paid A Piece Rate? (2026 Updated)
Paying staff a “piece rate” (for example, $X per item packed, per car cleaned, per lawn mowed, per delivery completed, or per job finished) can feel like a win-win. Your business gets...
5 January 2025
Workplace Health and Safety: An Overview For Employers (2026 Updated)
When you’re running a business, it’s easy to focus on the exciting stuff - winning clients, hiring great people, and building something that lasts. But there’s one area you can’t afford to...
5 January 2025
Zombie Agreements: What Employers Need To Know (2026 Updated)
It’s easy to assume your employment paperwork is “sorted” once you’ve got something signed and filed away. But in practice, a lot of New Zealand businesses end up with what HR teams...
5 January 2025
Understanding Unfair Dismissal (2026 Updated)
Letting someone go is one of the hardest parts of running a business. Even if you’re confident you’ve got good reasons, an employee can still challenge the dismissal if the process wasn’t...
5 January 2025
What Is Employee Stand Down? (2026 Updated)
If you run a business, there may come a time when work simply can’t be performed - not because your team doesn’t want to work, but because something outside your control has...
5 January 2025
What Is An Employee Commission Agreement? (2026 Updated)
If you’re hiring (or managing) staff who earn commission, it’s normal to feel a bit unsure about what you can “just agree verbally” versus what really needs to be written down. Commission...
5 January 2025
Changing Staff From Full Time To Casual (2026 Updated)
Sometimes your business changes pace. Maybe you’re heading into a quieter season, you’ve lost a key client, or you’re restructuring how you roster your team. In those situations, it can feel tempting...
5 January 2025
How To Reduce Staff Hours (2026 Updated)
When business is busy, rostering feels easy. But when sales dip, costs rise, or demand shifts, one of the first questions many New Zealand employers ask is: can we reduce staff hours?...
5 January 2025
Setting Up A Virtual Internship? Here’s What You Need To Know (2026 Updated)
Virtual internships can be a win-win: you get extra hands on deck and fresh ideas, and interns get real-world experience without needing to be in your office. But “remote” doesn’t mean “risk-free”....
5 January 2025
What's The Purpose Of An Employment Contract? (2026 Updated)
Hiring your first employee (or even your fifth) is a big moment. It usually means your business is growing, you’ve got more work coming in, and you’re ready to build a team....
5 January 2025
What Is Wage Theft? (2026 Updated)
If you’re running a business in New Zealand, you’ve probably heard the term “wage theft” more and more often. And if you’re an employee, you might be wondering whether what’s happening at...
5 January 2025
Should I Give My Employees Paid Leave To Get A COVID-19 Vaccination? (2026 Updated)
When you’re running a business, you’re constantly balancing people, productivity, and compliance. So it makes sense that a question like “Should I give my employees paid leave to get a COVID-19 vaccination?”...
5 January 2025
Need To Make An Employee Redundant? What Small Business Owners Must Know (2026 Updated)
Making an employee redundant is one of the toughest calls you’ll make as a small business owner. Even when the business decision is genuinely necessary, redundancy in New Zealand isn’t something you...
5 January 2025
A Guide To Workplace Bullying, Harassment And Discrimination (2026 Updated)
Workplace issues like bullying, harassment and discrimination can creep in quietly - a “joke” that goes too far, a manager who constantly singles someone out, or a hiring decision that’s influenced by...
5 January 2025
Does Your Business Engage Sub-Contractors? Here’s What You Need to Know (2026 Updated)
Bringing sub-contractors into your business can be a game-changer. It lets you scale up for busy periods, access specialised skills, and keep your overheads lean. But it can also get messy fast...
5 January 2025
Pay Secrecy: Can You Tell Employees To Keep Their Salary Secret? (2026 Updated)
Talking about pay at work can feel awkward. As an employer, you might worry that salary conversations will cause resentment, complaints, or a wave of “can I have a raise?” meetings. So...
5 January 2025
Working Overtime: What You Need To Know (2026 Updated)
Overtime can be a great way to hit deadlines, keep customers happy, and grow your business. But it can also become a fast track to payroll disputes, burnout, and employment law headaches...
5 January 2025
When An Employee Resigns Without Notice, Is It Legal? (2026 Updated)
If you employ staff (or you’re an employee yourself), a resignation without notice can feel like it comes out of nowhere. One day you’re planning the roster, the next day you’re short-staffed...
5 January 2025
A Guide To Employee Onboarding (2026 Updated)
Hiring someone new is a big moment for any business. Whether it’s your very first employee or the tenth person joining a growing team, a good onboarding process can set the tone...
5 January 2025
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