Employer Bulletin | 21 May

A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.

“I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers Lodge, in which five people lost their lives and 20 others were injured. Nothing makes up for their loss and a year on it is still keenly felt,” Mr Penk says.

“In response to the tragedy I’ve prioritised a full review of the fire safety provisions in the Building Code. This is the first full review of the fire safety provisions in more than a decade and focuses on how we better protect people and property.”

In today’s Bulletin

• Employment Court upholds Authority’s clause interpretation in favour of union
• Large employer incorrectly runs medical incapacity process 
• Successful interim injunction of breach of restraint of trade clause 
• Was the employment agreement’s abandonment clause applied correctly? 
• Procedural shortcomings in terminating employee who got injured at work
• Six news updates of interest for employers including: One year on from Loafers Lodge, Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings, Public consultation launched on International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, Unsafe machinery costs digits and dollars, Prices for food and international airfares increased in April and Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber. 
• Six Bills open for submission