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Jobs, benefits & flats

Hours, shifts and breaks

Your weekly hours

The standard working week: 40 hours, five days

Minimum Wage Act 1983, s 11B

Your employment agreement must set the maximum number of ordinary weekly hours at 40 or less (excluding any overtime), unless you and your employer agree otherwise.

If the maximum hours are set at 40 or less, you and your employer must try to arrange your hours so that they’re worked on not more than five days of the week.

Note: In certain cases, employees who are responsible for caring for others – a child or elderly relative for example – can ask their employer for flexible work hours, and the employer can refuse only on set grounds (see “Flexible working” in this chapter).

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Employment conditions and protections

Where to go for more support

Community Law

www.communitylaw.org.nz

Your local Community Law Centre can provide free initial legal advice and, depending on your situation, may also be able to provide ongoing support.

“Pregnancy Rights: Your legal options during and after pregnancy” (booklet)

This booklet contains practical answers to questions about pregnancy and the law, and includes information on sexual health and consent, options after a positive pregnancy test, healthcare, education, housing and more.

Order hard copies from:

Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley

Phone (04) 499 2928

Email: publications@wclc.org.nz or visit www.communitylaw.org.nz to buy a copy or access free online

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

www.employment.govt.nz

Free phone 0800 20 90 20, for general enquiries about employment relations, pay and holidays.

The Employment website of the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment publishes a range of publications on employment relations and minimum rights at work.

Labour inspectors

Labour inspectors monitor and enforce minimum employment conditions. To refer a problem to a labour inspector, you contact the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment on:

Free phone 0800 20 90 20

Worksafe New Zealand, Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa

www.worksafe.govt.nz

Free phone: 0800 030 040

Worksafe New Zealand’s website has a range of information and publications on workplace health and safety issues.

Parental leave payments

www.ird.govt.nz/topics/paid-parental-leave

The Inland Revenue website has information on parental leave payments.

Whistle-blowing (“Protected disclosures” by employees)

www.ombudsman.govt.nz

Free phone: 0800 802 602
Email: info@ombudsman.parliament.nz

The Office of the Ombudsman provides information and guidance to employees about making a protected disclosure.

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Te Kauae Kaimahi

www.union.org.nz

Phone: (04) 385 1334
Email: info@nzctu.org.nz

The NZCTU is the umbrella body for affiliated unions covering every job and industry in New Zealand. It can provide information about which union may cover the type of work you do.

Also available as a book

The Community Law Manual

The Manual contains over 1000 pages of easy-to-read legal info and comprehensive answers to common legal questions. From ACC to family law, health & disability, jobs, benefits & flats, Tāonga Māori, immigration and refugee law and much more, the Manual covers just about every area of community and personal life.

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