Employer Bulletin | 23 June

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says amendments to the Employment Relations Act will improve labour market flexibility and help businesses to grow, innovate, and employ with confidence and certainty.

“Today I’m announcing the introduction of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to Parliament, marking a key milestone in this government’s efforts to help New Zealand businesses employ or contract with confidence and create more and better opportunities for workers,” says Ms van Velden.

The changes give effect to several ACT–National Coalition Agreement commitments, including to provide greater certainty for contracting parties.

“Workers and businesses should have more certainty about the type of work being done from the moment they agree to a contracting arrangement,” says Ms van Velden.

“The new gateway test introduced in this Bill will provide greater clarity for businesses and workers around the distinction between employment and contracting arrangements. This will provide greater certainty for all parties and will allow more innovative business models.

The Bill will also make changes to simplify the personal grievances process including two significant changes.

“The amendment to personal grievances will reduce rewards for bad behaviour and reduce costs for businesses in the process,” says Ms van Velden.

“Under current law, if a personal grievance is established the Employment Relations Authority or Employment Court may award remedies including reinstatement into a role, and compensation for hurt and humiliation

In today’s Bulletin:

• Authority orders employee to make hefty repayment of stolen funds
• Application to cancel record of settlement rejected
• Failure to consult results in unjustified disadvantage
• Abrupt sending away leads to inevitable unjustified dismissal
• Marital issues spill into employment relationship
• Five news updates of interest for employers including: Sharpened focus on quality economic, population stats; Going for growth with more overseas investment; New Bill to boost labour market flexibility; Food prices increase 4.4% annually, and Increases to paid parental leave rates to help families.
• Eleven bills open for submission

If you have any questions, about this case or other employment relation matters, call the Advice Line team on 0800 800 362.