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News & Seminars
90-day trial periods are in the spotlight again
In a recent determination from the Employment Relations Authority four early childcare teachers successfully argued that the trial period clause in their employment agreement was not valid as the clause did not expressly state the date the trial period would commence. The Employment Relations Act requires employment agreements contain specific wording regarding the 90-day trial provision including words to the effect that the trial period is “…starting at the beginning of the employee’s employment…”. The Authority Member found that the trial period clause in this case did not reasonably imply that the 90 days started on the first day the teachers started work for Lighthouse ECE Ltd
Paying Employees for Labour Day
Labour Weekend is only a week away! So here is a refresher on paying your employees for public holidays.
Preventing Employee Fraud
Employee fraud is far more prevalent than most businesses realise. Recent cases in the media include allegations against Tessa Grant, a long serving employee at Sky City Hamilton, who has been charged with 49 fraud-related charges totalling $2.5 million, and Dionne Guinness who stole more than $350,000 from a small, owner operated Mount Maunganui company. She was sentenced to 2.5 years prison. (click for case review here)
Worksafe Release Their Strategic Plan for Healthy Work
WorkSafe NZ’s vision is that everyone who goes to work comes home healthy and safe. They have released a new 10-year strategic plan for work-related health which is aimed at improving awareness, attitudes and behaviours around work-related health, and through these, better management of work-related health risks and reduced exposures to health hazards.
Trusted Employee Stole More Than $350,000 Almost Crippling Her Employer
Dionne Guinness, from Papamoa Beach, pleaded guilty to 11 charges of fraud having stolen $352,698.45 between 2010 and 2014 from her employer, Jamie Black. She was sentenced to two-and-half-years' prison in Tauranga District Court. Outside court, Mr Black said two-and-half years in prison was not long enough for ruining their lives, and thought it should have been four to five years.
The Power of Values in Driving Organisational Change
Most people instinctively understand the concept of values, after all we all have them, but most people tend to think of them as something that relates to a person and not an organisation. However, many successful businesses and organisations, across a range of sectors, are successfully using organisational values as a base to improve the culture in their organisation, drive improvements and deliver real benefits to their customers.
September Free Seminar
Common Mistakes in Recruitment & Orientation:
Employee Successful in Trial Period Challenge
Ms Singh worked as a quality insurance tester for Ora HQ Limited (“Ora”) for 78 days before being dismissed under a trial period provision in her employment agreement. Ms Singh did not challenge the dismissal.
Welcome to Kate & Tamara
Kate David
Kate has over 26 years’ experience in Employee Relations and HR management positions including the GM HR of Summerset, and significant experience consulting to clients around the country through Rudd Watts & Stone and later with Kate David & Associates Ltd.
Are You Guilty of the Following?
Here are five of the most common slip ups employers have been making recently.