FYI:
Employment Law – Government Announces Changes to Employment Law
18 May 2012
Recently the Government has announced its intention to make changes to a number of areas of employment law, including approving the changes it proposed in its pre-election manifesto...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Case Law Update
07 May 2012
This FYI provides an update on recent topical decisions from the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court...
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FYI:
Employment Law – What does an Entitlement to an "Additional" Week's Leave Mean?
30 Mar 2012
The increase in an employee’s annual holiday entitlement from three to four weeks came into effect on 1 April 2007. This has led to a number of disputes between employers and unions over the correct interpretation of ‘additional’ holiday entitlements...
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Law Guides:
The Use of Social Media in the Workplace - A Regional Overview
07 Mar 2012
The firm's employment law group recently participated in a major project undertaken by Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm with offices in key business centres across the Americas, Asia and Europe...
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Law Guides:
Changes in HR Regulations within the Asia-Pacific Region
01 Feb 2012
This project identifies recent major developments in human resource laws throughout various jurisdictions in the Asia Pacific region.
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FYI:
Employment Law – "Would" v "Could" - Employment Court confirms that more than just one letter has changed
07 Dec 2011
The Full Court of the Employment Court has just released its preliminary decision in the cases of Angus v Ports of Auckland and McKean v Ports of Auckland...
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FYI:
Employment Law
The Full Court of the Employment Court has just released its preliminary decision in the cases of Angus v Ports of Auckland and McKean v Ports of Auckland. This decision confirms that Parliament did indeed alter the test for justification of dismissals and other actions taken by employers when section 103A of the Employment Relations Act was amended on 1 April this year...
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FYI:
Employment Law – The Future of Employment Relations - The Next Three Years
01 Dec 2011
Employment relations emerged as an important political battleground this election in light of the giant gap between the two main parties, with National wanting to give greater flexibility to businesses and Labour wanting to strengthen collective bargaining for workers...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Casual Employees: Not Casual Enough?
16 Nov 2011
Are your casual employees truly casual? Or is the nature of their employment something more permanent?...
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FYI:
Employment Law – "Could" You Dismiss
07 Nov 2011
The recent Employment Relations Authority determination of Sigglekow v Waikato District Health Board considered the new test for justifying dismissals (and other actions) by an employer...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Sleepover Dispute Put to Bed
18 Oct 2011
Last month a settlement was reached in the four year dispute between Idea Services and the Service and Food Workers Union in what has become known as the "sleepovers case"...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Rugby World Cup Fever
02 Aug 2011
In this FYI we summarise, in a light-hearted way, some employment law issues that could be relevant leading up to what will hopefully be New Zealand’s anticipated return to the rugby glory of 1987...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Employment Agreements - Are You Ready for 1 July 2011?
23 Jun 2011
As part of the recent suite of amendments to the Employment Relations Act 2000, from 1 July 2011 employers must keep a signed copy of the employment agreement or the current terms and conditions of employment...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Employers to Disclose “Everything but Kitchen Sink” in Restructurings
30 May 2011
In a decision that has sparked privacy concerns for employers across the country, the Employment Court has ordered Massey University to provide its employees with all of the information from a selection process for redundancy, including information in the minds of the selection panel...
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FYI:
Employment Law – KiwiSaver Version 5 - the Only Constant is Change
23 May 2011
Last week's Budget confirmed the Government's forewarning that changes would be made to KiwiSaver, the fifth variation to the scheme since its inception...
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Law Guides:
The International Comparative Legal Guide – Employment and Labour Law 2011 - 1st Edition
28 Apr 2011
Simpson Grierson is the New Zealand contributor to The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Employment and labour Law 2011 – 1st Edition...
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FYI:
Employment Law – A Recent Case Calls into Question an Employer’s Right to Set its Workplace Standards
19 Apr 2011
The Employment Court’s recent decision in C v Air Nelson casts real doubt over the extent to which the Court will truly allow an employer to reach its own decision about the behaviour that it considers acceptable in its workplace...
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FYI:
Employment Law
The Employment Court’s recent decision in C v Air Nelson casts real doubt over the extent to which the Court will truly allow an employer to reach its own decision about the behaviour that it considers acceptable in its workplace. In this case, the Court was highly critical of all of Air Nelson’s serious misconduct findings, despite acknowledging that they were made after a thorough investigation...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Employer Obligations in the Event of a Natural Disaster
24 Mar 2011
The recent earthquake in the Canterbury region has had devastating consequences. The scale of the loss of life and damage is immense and
our thoughts are with local residents and businesses as they deal with the aftermath...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Strike-Breaking and Lockouts - An Industrial Law Update
21 Mar 2011
The Court of Appeal has recently ruled on the difficult question of whether an employer can employ or engage replacement labour ("strike-breakers") when its employees are on strike...
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Law Guides:
Employee Data Privacy - A Regional Overview
01 Dec 2010
The firm's employment law group recently participated in a major project undertaken by Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm with offices in key business centres across the Americas, Asia and Europe...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Update: Amendments to Employment and Holiday Laws Have Been Passed
25 Nov 2010
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill (No 2) 2010 and Holidays Amendment Bill 2010 were passed after their third and final reading in Parliament on 23 November 2010...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Update on New Employment Laws
11 Nov 2010
The Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee has released its reports on the proposed amendments to the Employment Relations Act and Holidays Act. By and large, the initial changes to both Bills have been approved, but some further changes have been recommended.
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Feature Article:
Employment – Pay Back Time
25 Oct 2010
Employees are a critical part of any business' success. Most companies are now aware of the importance of the recruitment process, and take considerable care in selecting employees...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Immigration Act Changes
20 Oct 2010
The new Immigration Act 2009 is due to come into force on 29 November 2010, and will introduce tougher obligations on employers...
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Feature Article:
Employment – Bullying in the Workplace
18 Oct 2010
A recent study on stress and bullying in New Zealand workplaces has suggested that nearly one in five workers have suffered from some form of workplace bullying...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Legislation Update
08 Oct 2010
The Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee has recently recommended that two new bills be passed into law...
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FYI:
Employment Law – An Update on Calderbank Offers and Costs
06 Oct 2010
In this FYI, we discuss some recent cases which provide useful guidance to employers when seeking to maximise the benefit of using a Calderbank letter during settlement negotiations or legal proceedings...
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FYI:
Employment Law – First Employment Court Decision on 90 Day Trial Period
01 Sep 2010
As many of you will be aware, the Government has recently introduced some proposed amendments to the Employment Relations Act 2000. One proposal that has generated significant opposition and media comment from union groups is the extension of the "90 day trial period" to all employers...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Dismissals Case Law Update
26 Aug 2010
The Employment Court recently delivered a significant decision in Secretary for Justice v Dodd. In that case, the Court found that the dismissal of an employee for admitted serious misconduct was unjustified and upheld her reinstatement...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Government's Proposed New Employment Laws
25 Jul 2010
The Government has announced a number of proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act and Holidays Act. Although the changes may positively impact on employers in a number of ways, for the most part they are not as drastic as some commentators are claiming...
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FYI:
Employment Law
The Government has announced a number of proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act and Holidays Act. Although the changes may positively impact on employers in a number of ways, for the most part they are not as drastic as some commentators are claiming. In the main, they are consistent with National’s pre-election promises...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Supreme Court finds for employer on anti-strike breaking provisions of ERA
30 May 2010
Is your business currently bargaining for a collective agreement? Would a strike cause significant damage or disruption? Who would perform the work if your employees went on strike?
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FYI:
Employment Law – Case Update
01 Dec 2009
In a recent Employment Court decision, Masonry Design Solutions Limited v Bettany, an employee who brought a claim for unjustified dismissal had his claim dismissed and was instead ordered to pay his ex-employer $12,000...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Legislation Update
25 Nov 2009
The new Employment Relations (Rest and Meal Breaks) Amendment Bill, introduced by Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson in late October 2009, plans to make significant changes to the existing Rest and Meal Breaks regime...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Case Summaries
08 Sep 2009
There have been two recent cases from the Employment Court which provide useful guidance to employers...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Proposed Statutory Minimum Redundancy Entitlements
12 Aug 2009
Somewhat unexpectedly, the Employment Relations (Minimum Redundancy Entitlements) Amendment Bill has been drawn from the ballot and is currently on the Order Paper awaiting its first reading...
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Feature Article:
Intellectual Property – Social Networking or Social Slander?
17 Apr 2009
Social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and Twitter have become day-to-day means of communication. The upside for employers is that these websites encourage "social networking", which can result in positive spin-offs for your business...
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Feature Article:
Intellectual Property
Social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and Twitter have become day-to-day means of communication. The upside for employers is that these websites encourage "social networking", which can result in positive spin-offs for your business. The downside is that these websites also pose a number of potential risks to your business.
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FYI:
Employment Law – Update on Recent Employment Law Cases
09 Feb 2009
REMINDER: Trial Periods – Are You a Small or Medium Sized Employer?...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Protecting Your Business When Senior Employees Leave
20 Jan 2009
In the electronic age it has become easier for an employee to "walk out the door" with confidential information. They no longer have to photocopy files and carry them out in a cardboard box...
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FYI:
Employment Law – Avoiding the Pitfalls When Dismissing or Disciplining Staff
01 May 2008
Ensuring a dismissal or disciplinary action against one of your employees can withstand the scrutiny of a challenge has become increasingly more difficult in recent years...
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