Employer warning on holiday pay

17 December 2004

Employer warning on holiday pay

Business NZ is warning employers to make sure they get their holiday pay arrangements organised as soon as possible.

Business NZ Chief Executive Phil O'Reilly says the fact that all four statutory holidays fall on the weekend doubles the payroll cost for 7-day a week employers - because of new 'mondayisation' rules - and some employers may not have caught up with that yet.

"For some businesses their holiday pay costs will exceed their takings, and they may not be aware of this because the complexity of the new law makes it hard to understand what they're liable for.

"The new Holidays Act by itself substantially increases payroll costs for employers, and this is compounded this year by the fact that Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and the two New Year statutory holidays all fall on Saturdays and Sundays.

"Employers who have not yet organised their holiday payroll are urged to contact their regional employers' and manufacturers' association* as soon as possible," Mr O'Reilly said.

A guide to calculating pay over the Christmas and New Year holidays is also on www.businessnz.org.nz

*EMA Northern, EMA Central, Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, Otago-Southland Employers' Association

ENDS

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