Employment Book launched

Employment Book launched to coincide with major changes in employment law

Continued growth in the number of applications for mediation services indicate that employers are still unaware of their obligations to handle employment issues with procedural fairness costing them time and money, says Neil Story, Managing Director, Brookers Ltd.

Launching Brookers’ new work, Employment and Your Business, Story says statistics in the last Department of Labour’s annual report showed that there were 9256 applications for mediation services – 12 percent more than the previous year.

“The statistics confirmed our belief that many employers are facing personal grievance claims because they do not understand their legal requirements. Whether the problem relates to disciplinary procedures or calculating holiday pay, the cost to the business can be huge,” Mr Story says.

“It was these statistics, which the Department has predicted will continue to increase, and our own research which highlighted there is a need for a simple, practical, concise summation of all employment law relevant to New Zealand businesses. It is also details best practice approaches,” says Mr Story.

The launch of Employment and your Business has been timed to coincide with the major changes to holidays law, which come into force on 1 April 2004.

The book is the second Brookers has launched this year in its new BusinessWise series – written especially for managers and owners of New Zealand’s small to medium sizes businesses.

Both books are complemented by a website, http://www.businesswise.co.nz, which features a unique self-diagnostic tool that enables business owners and managers use as a starting point in identifying the compliance risks of their business.

Karen Spackman, Partner and Employment Lawyer at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, who reviewed the book says that in the employment law team of a commercial law firm, they see the expensive consequences of employers’ non-compliance with their employment obligations all too often.

“It can seem overwhelming for small to medium size businesses to both ensure they comply with all the statutory requirements, and also keep up with the constant changes.

“Employment and Your Business is an invaluable tool for businesses. It provides a clear summary of the statutory obligations that businesses must adhere to. Every business should keep this handy, whether they use it to review their current compliance with the law, or as a reference for when they are unsure about their statutory requirements,” she says.

“Employment and Your Business covers the recent changes and is essential reading at a time when there are so many changes that have recently been implemented."

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