Articles and Reference

Recent Items – Employment

Posted on 12 May, 2015

Much Stronger Employment Law Penalties Coming The Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety announced in late March 2015 the government has approved a number of measures to increase enforcement of employment standards.  The measures will be put to Parliament later this year in the Employment Standards Bill, and includes – Increased penalties Clearer record-keeping requirements Increased powers for labour inspectors Removing mediation in employment standards cases. The Minister’s announcement can be read at https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/govt-moves-strengthen-employment-standards.  More details are given below. Increased Penalties Maximum penalties for...

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Health and Safety

Posted on 5 May, 2015

  Reason for increased focus on workplace health and safety is clear No one goes to work expecting to get hurt, sick or killed. But in New Zealand, far too many people do.  Worksafe New Zealand reports on average, 75 people per year die on the job, 1 in 10 is harmed and 600-900 die from work-related diseases—all coming at a cost of $3.5 billion per year. And that’s doesn’t count the social and psychological costs on the friends, family, loved ones and co-workers of those people hurt on the job. Consider flu immunisation for staff As the Flu season is nearly on us WANZ employers should consider the benefits of subsidising their employees to have an influenza...

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