December 2018 Update
15 December 2018
December 2018 update
This is our last newsletter for 2018. Thank you for your ongoing support and for all the calls and emails to ask questions or simply talk things through, we love hearing from you so please continue to be in touch.
Employment Relations Act changes
We have been waiting for detail on changes to the Employment Relations Act introduced by the coalition Government. Last week they passed their third reading in Parliament, most of the changes will come into force on 6 May 2019.
In brief:
- The 90-day trial period will be restricted to employers with fewer than 20 employees.
- Changes to sections relating to the continuity of employment if an employee’s work is affected by restructuring.
- Restoring prescribed rest and meal breaks with a limited exception for workers in essential services.
- Reinstatement will be restored as the primary remedy for unjustified dismissal. (Comes into force the day after royal assent).
Further protection for employees in vulnerable industries. (Comes into force the day after royal assent).
Take time to breathe
Christmas is fast approaching, and we would like to encourage you all to take a deep breath. Love it or hate it, Christmas causes stress. Staff might feel the pressure and place unrealistic expectations on themselves which affects their performance or behaviour. As an employer you may need to be more understanding towards staff and pick your battles. Although it is tempting to try to tidy up all outstanding issues before year end, it may not be realistic. Employers are always judged by their actions and whether these are deemed to be fair and reasonable at the time, so count to ten and give us a call.
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Christmas Closedown Periods
Now is a good time to start planning for the end of year festive season. If your practice normally closes each year, this is considered an annual closedown under the Holidays Act. Your employment agreements should include a clause outlining your obligations, including: - The required notice period for closedown - How annual leave entitlements are applied - What happens if an employee has insufficient or no annual leave available
13 August 2026
21 years of HealthyPractice!
A lot has changed since the early days and HealthyPractice has transformed along the way to keep supporting practices in ways that are useful, practical and easy to work with. What has not changed is the heart of the service. It is still going strong. Most importantly, we would like to thank our Subscribers. Your support, feedback and trust over the past 21 years have helped shape HealthyPractice into what it is today, and we are so grateful to have been part of your journey while you have been part of ours.
16 July 2026
June on the road - Connecting with practices across New Zealand
Kia ora, We hope you are faring well, six months into 2026! At our end it’s been a busy month for the HealthyPractice team - here’s a quick snapshot of what we’ve been up to. It was great to connect face-to-face with practice owners, managers, clinicians and support teams at both the New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe Conference (NZVA) and the NZGPCME Primary Care Conference, both held in June. The MAS and HealthyPractice stand was a real hub of activity, helped along by a very popular coffee cart.
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