November 2018 Update
20 November 2018
November 2018 update
Business continuity
The 6.2 earthquake that rocked a large part of NZ last week is another timely reminder that we all need to be prepared and our disaster recovery and business continuity plans should be reviewed regularly.
If you had a change of staff in the last 12 months, have you updated the emergency contact details? How long is it since you changed your stored water, or checked the expiry dates on your food supplies?
Encourage your staff to have a family plan, and the Civil Defence website has plenty of good information to help families plan where they will meet, who will collect children from school or day care, and what they should include in their emergency supplies.
Domestic Violence - Victim Protection Act
The Domestic Violence – Victim Protection Act will come into effect on 1 April 2019. The purpose of the Act is to provide people affected by domestic violence a minimum entitlement to paid leave to assist with dealing with the effects.
The legislation will allow employees affected by domestic violence
- an additional 10 days leave per entitlement year (after the initial 6-month criteria)
- to request short term variation to their working arrangements for not longer than 2 months. Requests must be dealt with in the same way as any request under the Flexible Working arrangements
Domestic violence leave can be requested if the employee has been affected by domestic violence, regardless of how long ago the violence occurred, even if it is prior to the current employment.
Other recent articles
16 April 2026
Easing fuel and living-cost pressures, in practice
While we cannot control the wider economic environment, making clear, practical decisions in response to the current economic pressures can ease the load on our practice and our staff. Rising fuel prices and the broader cost-of-living pressure are not only having financial implications, they are also impacting how we feel about normal day-to-day ‘necessities’, which may be affecting stress levels and causing rising anxiety for some. It is important to focus on what we can change – how we can make small adjustments to support staff, reduce avoidable stress and keep the practice functioning well. own.
24 March 2026
Major Changes to NZ Employment Law: What Employers Need to Know in 2026
Something we have been hearing lots from our members is how do we stay on top of these changes that seem to be popping up in the news? Are there things we need to do right now? What are the actual impacts in terms we understand? Significant reforms to New Zealand’s employment landscape have now taken effect, with more changes on the horizon. From high‑income dismissal rules to a full rewrite of the Holidays Act, these updates reshape the rights, responsibilities, and relationships between employers and workers.
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.
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