Employment Lawyer in NZ - Legal Services

Our employment lawyer in New Zealand offers services to both employers and employees in need of legal assistance and advice in various matters concerning workplace relationships, compliance with hiring/ dismissing staff etc.

Quick Facts
Regulatory framework for employment in New Zealand	– Employment Relations Act 2000, – Equal Pay Act 1972, – Holidays Act 2003, – Wages Protection Act 1983, – Minimum Wage Act 1983, etc.
Services provided by our employment lawyers	Legal assistance and court representation for: – unfair employment dismissal, – workplace harassment, – dispute resolution, etc.
Employer obligations	– provide written employment agreement, – pay at least the minimum wage, – offer rest and meal breaks, – grant mandatory leaves, – respect union rights, etc.
Employment records obligations	Employers must maintain employment history records. Employees have the right to access the records at any time.
Employee obligations	– work during the agreed-upon hours, – respect health and safety policies, – comply with employment agreement, – have professional conduct, etc.
Valid reasons for dismissing an employee	– job performance issues, – termination within a trial period, – severe or repeated work misconduct, – job position no longer necessary
Regulations for employees having multiple jobs	It is possible unless the employment agreement specifically states otherwise. Employees must not use resources from one job to another.
Workplace discrimination	If you are being discriminated at work, our employment lawyers in NZ can provide legal support.
Unauthorized payment deductions	It is illegal for an employer to deduct money from an employee’s pay without his/her written consent or a court order.
Annual paid leave	4 weeks (after 12 months of employment)
Sick leave	10 days (after 6 months of employment)
Overtime pay requirements	Overtime pay is not legally required. Employers and employees can agree on such terms if desired.
Payment for working on public holidays	1.5 times the normal hourly rate
Employee personal data privacy	Employers must comply with the Privacy Act 2020. Employees have the right to access their personal information.
Additional services provided	Our accountants provide payroll services for managing the employee’s wages and records.

What services does your employment lawyer provide?

Here are some of the main areas of interest covered by our employment lawyers in NZ:

Employment agreement drafting and vetting: an employment attorney in New Zealand from our team can assist with drafting and preparing personalized versions of all relevant documentation for employment;
Unfair dismissal: unjustified dismissal is not permitted, and you can seek legal help when your employer has failed to provide a reasonable cause for the termination of the employment agreement;
Restructuring: when the time comes to manage a company restructuring or redundancy process, a lawyer can provide essential support and representation for employers who must implement employment changes within their organization;
Wages and leave: if your employer does not observe the law for minimum wage or for parental or paid leave, you can talk to us;
Harassment: workplace harassment should be reported to the employer. However, if your workplace has become unsafe, you can discuss your situation with our lawyer, who will help you raise a personal grievance or approach the matter in a different manner.

What legal services do you offer to employers in New Zealand?

The solutions we offer to employers in New Zealand are comprehensive and cover a wide range of areas. In addition to the solutions mentioned above, our team can also assist with the following:

Various workplace issues and disputes: performance management, workplace bullying investigations, claims made by employees (including discrimination and sexual and racial harassment), and other special types of situations, such as abandonment of employment;
Union issues: collective and multi-employer bargaining, bargaining and union strategy development, bargaining process agreements, assistance during strikes;
Court representation: our employment lawyer in New Zealand can provide adequate client representation for employers looking to resolve any of the aforementioned issues. We can provide not only legal representation in the Employment Court and the High Court, but also mediation as an alternative dispute resolution method, when appropriate.

The video below lists the main services offered by our team of employment attorneys in New Zealand:

What legal services do you offer to employees in New Zealand?

Here are the main services for employees offered by our employment lawyer in Auckland:

Employment rights compliance: if you believe that your employer is not respecting your rights under the agreement you have signed, you can discuss any matter of concern with us;
Wrongful dismissal: support from our employment lawyer in NZ if you were subject to wrongful dismissal;
Personal grievances: we assist employees who wish to take legal action against their employers. This can be done within 90 days of the incident, and our NZ employment lawyers will offer you complete details about the process.

Can you help me with mediation for employment issues?

Our employment lawyers in New Zealand may also recommend mediation for addressing workplace disputes. This may be useful when:

The employment dispute cannot be resolved informally by the employer and the employee;
Both parties agree voluntarily to request the confidential assistance of an independent mediator;
The employer and the employee understand that they would be subject to a semi-formal process that would not involve going to court or any cross-examinations.

What law do employers observe in New Zealand?

The primary legislation that governs employment relationships in New Zealand is the Employment Relations Act 2000. The government authority responsible for its implementation is the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Contact us if you need to work with an employment lawyer in Hamilton, NZ, or in another area in the North Island. We provide complete services to employers and employees alike.