Holidays Act Reform Webinar: What we heard and what happens next

One thing has become obvious through this process. The challenge for employers is understanding what they need to do, step by step over the next two years.

Over the coming months, our team will be building what we believe will be one of the most practical employer focused resources on the Holidays Act reforms.

 

Our plan includes:

Practical Q&A Library

We are currently reviewing and categorising every question received during and after the webinar. As questions come in we will add to the library, publishing answers in our monthly Newsfeed.

Rather than answering questions in isolation, we will publish practical guidance organised around key themes such as payroll, employment agreements, leave entitlements, seasonal work and implementation planning.

 

Industry and role specific training

Many questions came from sectors with unique workforce arrangements, including horticulture, education, payroll and seasonal industries.

We will be developing industry-specific training so employers can see how the reforms may apply in their real-world situations.

We also recognise that communications with all employees will be essential for a smooth transition, and we will create training programmes that can be delivered within organisations to meet this need.

 

Employer Readiness Guides

We will provide simple checklists showing:

• A step by step practical guide of what employers should be doing in the lead up to the changes becoming effective with recommended timeframes.
• A template you can use to provide to Boards and management teams setting out in plain language the changes, the implications of the changes, cost implications (resources for implementation and ongoing costs), and an outline implementation plan.
• A communication schedule to ensure everyone in the organisation – employees, managers and directors – know about the changes, the impact on them and the organisation.

 

Deep Dive Webinars

The feedback suggests employers want more time to work through practical examples.

We are therefore considering a series of focused sessions covering topics such as:

• Employment agreements and policy reviews
• Payroll and payroll system implications
• Seasonal and variable-hour employees
• Leave accrual and entitlement calculations
• Communicating change within your organisation

 

Specialist Holidays Act Advisory Services

The reforms will affect every employer in New Zealand. Our goal is to develop practical implementation services that give employers a clear pathway through the changes, including reviews, templates, compliance checks, manager guidance and implementation support.

 Our commitment is simple: we will continue turning complex legislation into practical, workplace-focused guidance that employers can actually use.

We look forward to sharing the next round of resources shortly.