Holidays Act & Employment Relations Act Changes

Posted on 2011-06-08

From April 2011 several important changes will come into effect for both the Holidays Act and the Employment Relations Act.

All employers need to be aware of these changes to ensure their continued compliance with employment regulations in NZ.

The main changes to the Acts are as follows:

Holidays Act

• Employees can cash in annual holidays (maximum of 1 week)
• Public holidays can be transferred to another working day
• Employers can request proof of sickness within first 3 consecutive days of the sick leave

Employment Relations Act

• 90 day trial period for new employees available to all employers
• Requiring consent to be given before unions can access workplaces
• Employers required to retain employment agreements (effective from 1st July 2011)
• Changes to the personal grievance provisions
• Labour inspectors power and role extended

To learn about these changes in more detail or to find out more information visit the Department of Labour website: www.dol.govt.nz

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