Scam Alert
There is a scam doing the rounds where you receive an email supposedly from your employee asking you to change the bank account number that their pay is going into. Make sure you check with your employee that the email is actually from them, don’t reply to the email.
Changes 1 April 2019
Minimum wage is now $17.70 for adults
Employees can now choose Kiwisaver rates of 3%, 4% 6%, 8% or 10%. Employers need to contribute a minimum of 3% but can choose to make it higher. They don’t need to match the employees’ contribution.
Domestic Violence leave – Employees who have been affected by domestic violence can take 10 days of paid domestic violence leave if they have worked for their employer for at least 6 months. This is separate from annual leave, sick leave, and bereavement leave.
Changes from 6 May 2019
From 6 May 2019, employees are entitled to set rest and meal breaks. Generally, this is 10 minutes paid break for every four hours and 30 mins unpaid break for eight hours.
The 90-day trial period is now only for employers with 19 or fewer employees. You still need to give them a reason why they are being dismissed and they are entitled to holiday pay etc while they are on their 90-day trial.
Employment Contracts
All employees are required by law to have a written employment agreement,
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has a great free Employment Agreement builder tool you can use to prepare your employment contract.
https://eab.business.govt.nz/employmentagreementbuilder
They also have a free mediation service if you’re having trouble with an employee.
If you employ people from overseas, you need to confirm their entitlement to work in New Zealand. Immigration NZ has a free tool for this.
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-online-systems/visaview
Leave Entitlements
Before you employ someone, remember their entitlements to take paid leave.
11 Public Holidays
4 weeks of annual leave
5 days sick leave
3 days bereavement leave
10 days domestic violence leave
If you’d like any further information about this please contact us 03-352-1076.
