Standing up for workers’ rights: Union rights and health and safety Health and safety: Retaliation because you stuck up for your rights in the workplace Personal grievance for retaliation around health and safety issues Employment Relations Act 2000, s 103(1)(j) Health and…
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Resolving employment problems Taking action on unfair pay Pay equity What is pay equity? “Pay equity” is about people getting paid the same for doing different work of equal value. This is different to “equal pay” which means getting the same pay…
Resolving employment problems Disputes about your employment agreement What is a “dispute”? Employment Relations Act 2000, ss 5, 129 The word “dispute” has a narrow, technical meaning in employment law – it means a dispute about how an employment agreement should apply…
Resolving employment problems Unpaid wages: Taking action to get your pay What can I do if I’m not paid the wages owed to me? Employment Relations Act 2000, ss 131, 142 Minimum Wage Act 1983, ss 10, 11 Crimes Act 1961, s 220AA If…
Resolving employment problems The legal process for dealing with employment problems First steps It’s a legal requirement that every employment agreement include a plain language explanation of the services available for resolving employment relationship problems (see the example below). If problems arise…
Resolving employment problems The legal process for dealing with employment problems Mediation For many employment issues the employment laws promote mediation as the main way of resolving problems. However, this doesn’t apply to disputes about workers’ minimum rights in areas such as…
Resolving employment problems The legal process for dealing with employment problems Taking your case to the Employment Relations Authority What is the Employment Relations Authority? Employment Relations Act 2000, s 157 The ERA investigates and decides employment relationship problems. Its role is…
Resolving employment problems The legal process for dealing with employment problems Going to the Employment Court: Appeals and other special cases What issues can the Employment Court deal with? Employment Relations Act 2000, s 187 The Employment Court’s role includes: hearing challenges…
Resolving employment problems Labour inspectors Who are labour inspectors and how can they help? Labour inspectors work for the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). They can be contacted through the MBIE contact centre on 0800 20 90 20. Labour inspectors…
Where to go for more support Community Law Your local Community Law Centre can provide you with free initial legal advice. Find your local Community Law Centre online: www.communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment The Employment website of the Ministry of…
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