Covid-19 update
25 August 2021
Hope you are all doing well in Level 4. Some subscribers will be operating under Level 4 conditions, others may have some staff working from home and others will be closed. The HealthyPractice team are working from home. If you have questions, you can email us on business@mas.co.nz or call on 0800 800 627.
The uncertainty of the situation will no doubt have you considering options, especially if the current lockdown is extended.
The basic employment principles continue to apply during lockdowns. The employer obligation is to pay staff for their contracted hours. If you find yourself in the position that you may need to reduce hours or pay, then you must put a proposal to staff and seek their agreement to the changes.
The Government has announced financial support packages for businesses affected by the lockdown including:
- Resurgence Support Payment
The Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) has been reintroduced and you may be eligible for this – see Eligibility for the Resurgence Support Payment (RSP) (ird.govt.nz)
- The Wage Subsidy
The Wage Subsidy is available to businesses impacted by the lockdown, see: COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021 applications open - Work and Income, with your employer obligations detailed at: Your obligations for COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021 - Work and Income. The Wage Subsidy includes a requirement that you “use the subsidy to pay the ordinary wages and salary of the named employees, in accordance with their employment agreements and statutory obligations, for the period you receive the subsidy”. In good faith you can agree with staff to work reduced hours and be paid accordingly, bearing in mind that the wage subsidy requires you to “use your best endeavours to pay at least 80 per cent of each named employee's ordinary wages or salary”.
- The Covid Leave support scheme
This is to cover employers, self-employed people to help pay employees who need to self-isolate and can’t work from home https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2020/covid-19-financial-support-for-businesses.html
- Covid-19 short-term absence payment
Available for people who cannot work from home and need to miss work while staying at home waiting for Covid-19 test results https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2020/covid-19-financial-support-for-businesses.html
Other useful information and links:
- Vaccination
At this stage only workers in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, and government agencies at the border are subject to the mandatory vaccination Health Order that came into effect on the 1st May. In all other respects employment law continues to apply. If work cannot be done by unvaccinated workers – see Employment NZ information at https://www.employment.govt.nz/leave-and-holidays/other-types-of-leave/coronavirus-workplace/covid-19-vaccination-and-employment/#scrollto-employment-law-continues-to-apply-if-work-cannot-be-done-by-unvaccinated-employees
Although there is increased health and safety risk in the health sector, especially with front line providers and staff, it still needs to be considered on a case by case basis. The Delta variant could be a ‘game changer’ as far as managing the health and safety risk but until there is a significant ‘test case’ that can be applied in principle across a sector, or Health Orders are more broadly introduced, all current employment principles apply. Check with your professional body for specific clinical guidelines.
- Annual leave during lockdown
Annual leave needs to be requested and agreed to, and only in exceptional circumstances can you instruct an employee to take leave, see Employment NZ’s website at: https://www.employment.govt.nz/about/news-and-updates/can-employers-make-employees-take-leave-during-alert-levels-3-and-4/
- Health & Safety
Employer obligations around health and safety also continue to apply for all workers including contractors, and you can download a policy template for Covid-19 health and safety at the bottom of our HealthyPractice page at https://www.healthypractice.co.nz/members/legal-and-risk/risk-management/pandemic-planning/novel-coronavirus/
- Supporting mental health
See our HealthyPractice content at https://www.healthypractice.co.nz/members/human-resources/leave/sick-leave/managing-mental-health-issues-workplace/
Other recent articles
5 February 2026
2026 Off to a Flying Start
As we lament the end of the holidays and ask ourselves where has summer gone?!, we’re also looking ahead to another busy year — particularly given the volume of legislative change expected in 2026 (more on this below). We’re pleased to welcome Emma Wasson to the Healthy Practice team, who joined us in January in the newly created role of HR Coordinator-Healthy Practice. Emma will be focused on supporting our HealthyPractice Advisers and strengthening the resources available to you. She’ll also be involved in developing our annual reports, including the staff-ratio and GP remuneration reports, due out early this year.
16 December 2025
Happy Holidays
As we approach the end of the calendar year, we’d like to thank our Subscribers and MAS Members for your continued support of the Healthy Practice service and team. It has certainly been another busy year. Throughout 2025, we’ve seen the matters coming through become increasingly complex and varied, alongside a noticeable increase in change activity across the health and practice sectors. This year has also brought change for us, with the retirement of the much-respected and one-of-a-kind Shaun Phelan and Fiona Mines, as well as broader change across MAS.
31 October 2025
Times they are changing… again!
We’re thrilled to introduce our new manager, Hayden Saunders. Hayden joined MAS in September 2022 and has been a key part of our internal People and Culture team, serving as Head of HR Business Partnering. He brings a deep well of expertise in HR and employment relations, nd is based at our corporate head office in Wellington alongside the rest of the team. Hayden is eager to dive into the diverse range of queries we receive and support the HealthyPractice community.
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