Employment Law Articles
Expert articles and practical legal guides on employment law for new zealand businesses.
Standing Down An Employee Pending Investigation In NZ: Employer Guide
When something serious happens at work, your first instinct might be to “stand the employee down” while you work out what’s going on. For small businesses, it can feel like the only...
20 June 2026
Managing Performance Improvement Plans Fairly in New Zealand
A performance improvement plan can help manage underperformance, but if it is rushed, vague, or used as a path to dismissal, it can expose New Zealand
20 June 2026
Sole Trader Or Employee: How Long Can You Contract For One Company In NZ
If you regularly engage the same person as a contractor (often a sole trader) for months or years, it’s natural to wonder whether they’re still genuinely a contractor, or whether the relationship...
20 June 2026
Employment Contracts for Recruitment Agencies in New Zealand
Employment contracts for recruitment agencies in New Zealand should cover employee status, confidentiality, commissions, restraints and workplace policies.
19 June 2026
Employment Contracts for Support Workers in New Zealand
Hiring support workers without a clear written contract can lead to disputes about pay, shifts, travel, confidentiality, and worker classification. This
19 June 2026
Sick Leave Without a Medical Certificate in New Zealand
Managing sick leave can feel straightforward - until an employee takes time off and doesn’t provide a medical certificate. If you run a small business, you’re probably juggling coverage, customer expectations and...
19 June 2026
Sick Leave For Casual Employees In New Zealand
Hiring casual staff can be a lifesaver when you’re juggling seasonal demand, busy weekends, or last-minute cover. But when a casual team member calls in sick, it can quickly raise tricky questions:...
19 June 2026
Sick Leave Entitlements For Employers In New Zealand
Managing sick leave can feel straightforward until you’re actually running a team. One person is off with the flu, another needs time for a medical appointment, and someone else calls in sick...
19 June 2026
Sick Leave Entitlements For Casual Employees In New Zealand
Casual staff can be a lifesaver for small businesses. They help you cover busy periods, manage seasonal demand, and keep your wage costs flexible. But when a casual employee calls in sick...
19 June 2026
When An Employee Calls In Sick During Their Notice Period In New Zealand
You’ve finally received a resignation letter (or you’ve issued notice of termination), you’re planning handover dates, and then it happens: the employee calls in sick. Most small business owners have the same...
19 June 2026
Sick Leave Calculator: Calculating Employee Sick Leave Entitlements In NZ
If you’ve got staff (even just one employee), sick leave quickly becomes one of those “simple in theory, messy in real life” payroll tasks. Between part-time hours, roster changes, payroll systems, and...
19 June 2026
Sick And Bereavement Leave In NZ: Who Counts As Immediate Family?
When someone on your team loses a loved one, the legal side of leave entitlements can suddenly feel very real - and very time-sensitive. As an employer, you’re balancing a few things...
19 June 2026
Show Cause Letters in NZ: Disciplinary Process for Employers
When an issue comes up with an employee, it can be tempting to move straight to a warning or (in serious cases) dismissal. But in New Zealand, employers generally need to follow...
19 June 2026
Shift Cancellation Policy: What NZ Employers Are Legally Required To Do
If you run a small business, you already know rosters can change fast. A quiet day turns busy, a staff member calls in sick, the weather kills foot traffic, or a supplier...
18 June 2026
Working on Public Holidays in New Zealand: Employer Rules
Need staff to work on a public holiday in New Zealand? Learn when employers can require work, when time and a half applies, and when alternative holidays
18 June 2026
Shift Allowances In New Zealand: Employer Pay And Compliance Rules
If your business runs early mornings, late nights, weekends, or rotating rosters, you’ve probably had the “shift allowances” conversation already (or it’s coming soon). Shift allowances can be a great way to...
18 June 2026
Shift Allowance in NZ: Employers’ Legal Obligations for Night Shift Pay
If your business runs evenings, nights, early mornings or rotating rosters, you’ve probably come across the idea of a shift allowance. For many small businesses, shift allowances can feel like a “nice-to-have”...
18 June 2026Bring Your Own Device Policy for New Zealand Employers
A bring your own device policy can save money and support flexible work, but it also raises real legal issues for New Zealand employers. Here’s how to
17 June 2026Severance Vs Redundancy In New Zealand: Legal Obligations When Ending Employment
Ending an employment relationship is one of the hardest parts of running a small business. Even when you’re acting with the best intentions, it’s easy to get tripped up by terminology (like...
17 June 2026Service Agreement vs Employment Agreement: Key Differences In NZ
If you’re bringing someone into your business to help you grow, one of the first (and biggest) legal decisions is whether they’re working for you as an employee or providing services to...
16 June 2026Serious Misconduct And Summary Dismissal In New Zealand
If you employ staff (or you’re about to hire your first team member), you’ve probably heard the phrase “serious misconduct” thrown around as a reason you can dismiss someone immediately. But in...
16 June 2026
Commission and Incentive Terms for New Zealand B2B Sales Agencies
Commission and incentive plans for New Zealand B2B sales agencies can cause costly disputes if payment triggers, clawbacks, worker status and termination
15 June 2026
Secondary Employment In New Zealand: Employer Legal Risks And Obligations
It’s becoming more common for staff to have a “side hustle”, a second job, or freelance work outside their main role. For small businesses, that can be totally fine - until it...
15 June 2026
Employee Break Times in New Zealand: Employer Rules and Rostering Risks
Break times are a common pressure point for New Zealand employers. This guide explains how NZ employment law break times rules affect contracts, rosters
15 June 2026
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