MEDIA STATEMENT

May 8, 2012

Employment Hotline for HB Businesses to Preserve More Jobs

A push to make managing staff as easy as possible for small to medium business, has led to an employment advice “hotline”, starting on June 1st.

The new Chamber initiative 0800 HBBUSINESS (0800 422 874) service will allow registered callers access to advice from Hawke’s Bay lawyers Gifford Devine, five days a week, 8.30am – 5pm.

Chamber CEO Murray Douglas said recent changes to employment law had resulted in difficult and costly exercises for a number of businesses.

“We have been getting increasing numbers of calls into the Chamber of Commerce from business owners who are simply unsure how to progress with employment issues.

“This, value for money, hotline sponsored by Smart, will help to facilitate better employment solutions in the region and return an extra degree of confidence to our business sector.”

As a Chamber Board member, Adrienne Pierce from Smart was happy to support this initiative, by providing the facility for the 0800 number.
“By providing this first step hotline for business, we are supporting them to get on and grow, which should help to facilitate more employment in the region"
Murray Douglas said he wanted to see an end to the employment “war stories’ which only served to slow business growth.

“Legislation such as the 90 day employment trial period has led to issues and we need to ensure that businesses get advice before they encounter difficulties.”

Lawyer Jim Ferguson from Gifford Devine said employers often chose not to involve a lawyer because of the cost however, he warned, not getting advice could be even costlier.

“A business can end up facing considerably higher costs, if correct legal requirements are not followed in the first instance.”

Details on how to register for the service are available on the Chamber website www.hawkesbaychamber.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media