As of 6 May 2019, rest and meal breaks are to be more prescriptive. These are to be agreed between the employer and the employee. Where these rest and meal breaks cannot be agreed then the breaks will be in the middle of the work period (so long as it is reasonable and practical to […]
Industry InsightEmployment Agreements
Restrictions on the use of the 90-Day Trial Period from 6 May 2019
If you are a company with less than 20 employees – there is no change. You are able to continue using the 90 day trial period with confidence, with one note of censure – your 90 day trial period clause must be compliant with the latest legislation. Unfortunately, we have had several companies phone us […]
Yippee, death to Trial periods… and I bet you never thought you would hear me say that!
January saw great headlines about the end to trial periods and return of the workers right. But since then there has been radio silence, so what is actually happening? Where is the Bill? The Employment Relations Amendment Bill has been put before parliament. However, it is still with the Select Committee after the first hearing, […]
‘Skivitis’… beware it’s catchy
Skiving off work, can take many forms. There are the easily recognisable moments in a working day when you know employees are not technically working – often termed ‘ low level’ skiving. Then there is the more problematic ‘presenteeism,’ where people show up to work, but are not engaged and productive. Even more serious to […]
Do Restraints of Trade actually restrain?
NB this article is equally applicable to employees and Independent Contractors Restraints of trade definitely have a bad reputation as being unenforceable, and I have heard many horror stories of salon operatives setting up shop in the immediate vicinity and nobbling your client base. However, the good news is that they can be made to […]
Are they really Independent Contractors?
“Direct employment is too difficult, I’ll just put them on an independent contractor agreement”. This assertion is one I hear frequently in the Salon industry, but it is a belief that is fraught with danger for two major reasons: The Independent contractor claiming they are actually an employee and therefore due holiday pay etc. The […]