Category Archives: News & Events

HRtoolkit is delighted to have partnered with Warehouse Stationery to provide a range of HR documents for small to medium enterprises. Simply pop in to any of the 65 nationwide Warehouse Stationery stores and choose one of five leaflets covering recruitment, employment agreements, performance and discipline, health and safety and redundancy and restructuring.

There is also the opportunity to have access to the full HRtoolkit DIY Document Library.

Validation codes included on the leaflets can be entered at hrmadeeasy.co.nz giving users access to the full HRtoolkit DIY Document Library.

Lisa Mackay, Managing Director of HRtoolkit comments, “We’ve joined forces with Warehouse Stationery to make HR easy for New Zealand business owners. The in-store leaflets focus on the five most common topics that HRtoolkit is asked about. Our collaboration with Warehouse Stationery means that more small to medium sized business owners will have access to essential HR advice at extremely competitive prices.”

The annual David Awards, which recognise the unsung heroes of home and small businesses throughout New Zealand, has awarded HRtoolkit the top prize of Supreme Winners for 2014.

The three month trial period, zero hours contracts and the minimum wage are hot topics at the moment. Lisa Mackay, Managing Director of HRtoolkit was interviewed live on National Radio to give her response to Andrew Littles’ Speech.

Listen to her interview here: Small business responds to Little’s speech

VIDEO

The Employment Relations Act has changed. Watch this 60 second video to find out what you need to know and what you need to do:

To comply with changes to the Employment Relations Act, your employment agreements need to be reviewed. Sign up for HRtoolkit Employment Agreements for $199+gst a year to access up-t0-date, legally compliant Employment Agreements.

Free Employment Healthcheck
Email [email protected] with your current employment agreement template, or call 0800 HRtoolkit and we will give you a FREE 10 minute review.

In January the Government announced that the minimum wage will increase by 50 cents to $15.75 from 1 April 2017. The minimum wage for starting-out and training minimum wage will increase from $12.20 to $12.60 per hour – remaining at 80 per cent of the adult minimum wage.

For more information, read the Minister’s announcement

Subscribe to our Employment Toolkit for all the documents, legislation and advice you need to effectively manage your team.

The Government has just launched SmartStart, an online tool for new and expectant parents with step-by-step information to help you and your baby get off to the best start. The website integrates information from a range of social development agencies so new parents can:

• Register their baby
• Get an IRD number for their child
• Adjust their Ministry of Social Development benefits
• Update their Working for Families documents

SmartStart also creates a personalised timeline and checklist of things to do, helps parents check that they’re not missing out on financial help and provides tips on keeping parents and baby healthy and safe, as well as contact details for organisations which can help.

If you or an employee is expecting a baby, suggest they check out SmartStart.

Subscribe to HRtoolkit for all the documents, legislation and advice you need to effectively manage your team.

In December last year, company ‘officers’ were made personally liable for over $135,000 in wages after the companies went into liquidation. In two cases, the employers owed unpaid wages and holiday pay to migrant workers when the companies were liquidated and the director declared bankrupt.

Lola Ward of the Labour Inspectorate said “The Labour Inspectorate does not tolerate employers, including company officers, who fail to meet their obligations as employers to provide at leas a minimum wage and holiday pay… we will not hesitate to pursue personally those who try to avoid paying their employees what is owed.”

Subscribe to our DIY Employment Toolkit for all the documents, legislation and advice you need to effectively manage your team.

Following a nationwide investigation, businesses have been warned that they can no longer disguise employees as ‘volunteers’. While the Labour Inspectorate is supportive of genuine volunteering, they have concerns around some volunteering that may stray into an employment relationship.

George Mason of the Labour Inspectorate says “Businesses cannot evade their obligations as employers by calling their workers volunteers and then rewarding them with a bed, food and Wi-Fi rather than a fair wage. This practice is unfair to businesses that follow the law and pay their employees.”

For more information view The Labour Inspectorate position statement on Work In A Business Operation Without Payment of Wages.

Subscribe to our DIY Employment Toolkit for all the documents, legislation and advice you need to effectively manage your team.

Come to a HR speed date with Frances. In our short time together we’ll have an interesting and engaging conversation about how HR can help you have
successful and productive employment relationships.

• Recruitment: Start with the end in mind
• Induction: Have a learning plan; a gradual introduction is best
• Health and Safety: Ensure the wellbeing of your entire team
• Performance: How to develop win/win relationships

Time: 5.30-7.30pm
Date: Monday 20 March, 2017
Place: Surrey Hotel, Cornwall Room, 465 Richmond Road,Grey Lynn, Auckland

In February Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse announced new measures against employers who breach immigration and employment law.

Michael Woodhouse said “Migrant workers make a valuable contribution to our workforce and have the same rights as any other worker. It is simply unacceptable that those employers who exploit migrant workers are still able to recruit from the international labour market and disadvantage those employers who do the right thing.”

Subscribe to our DIY Employment Toolkit, our bills aren’t big but the cost of getting it wrong can be huge.