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Who Can Help Manage a Difficult Employee Situation in New Zealand?

At some point, most employers will face an employee issue that feels more complex than expected. What may begin as a performance concern, behavioural issue, or ongoing tension can quickly escalate if it is not handled carefully. Employers often recognise that something needs to be addressed but are unsure about the correct process, what the law requires, or whether they are already exposed to risk.Employee issues tend to become difficult when they extend beyond everyday management. This can incl...

Medical Certificates and Sick Leave

Medical certificates are a common feature of managing sick leave, yet they are often misunderstood by employers. Questions regularly arise about when a certificate can be requested, what it actually means, and how far an employer can go in challenging or relying on it. Getting this wrong can quickly lead to employee relations issues or legal risk.Under New Zealand employment law, employees are entitled to sick leave once they have met the eligibility requirements, and employers are entitled to a...

How to Ask Better Interview Questions and Make Better Hiring Decisions

Interviews are one of the most common ways employers decide who to hire, yet they are also one of the least reliable when done poorly. A friendly conversation and a good gut feeling might tell you whether you like someone, but they rarely tell you how that person will actually perform once they are in the role.One of the biggest mistakes employers make in interviews is doing most of the talking. When interviewers spend the session selling the role or explaining the business in detail, they miss ...

Can you Change an Employee's Hours or Days of Work?

Employers often assume that changing an employee’s hours or days of work is a straightforward operational decision. In reality, it is one of the most common areas where well intentioned employers inadvertently expose themselves to risk. Even where changes seem reasonable or minor, altering working arrangements without following the correct process can undermine trust and lead to disputes.In New Zealand, an employee’s hours and days of work are contractual terms. This means they cannot be cha...

Can an Employee Leave Without Working Their Notice Period?

When an employee resigns and then advises they will not work all or part of their notice period, it can place immediate pressure on your business. Deadlines, client commitments, and team workloads can all be affected. While the situation can be frustrating, it is important to respond in a way that is lawful, measured, and consistent with your good faith obligations as an employer.Your starting point should always be the employment agreement. If a notice period is clearly set out, the employee is...

January HR Issues Don’t Come Out of Nowhere

The days between Christmas and New Year are often quieter for businesses. Emails slow down, decision making pauses, and for many leaders, it is one of the few times in the year there is genuine space to think rather than react.For many business owners and managers, January can feel unexpectedly heavy.Resignations land in the first week back. Performance concerns that were tolerated suddenly feel impossible to ignore. Long standing tensions resurface. What felt manageable in November now feels ur...

Can We Monitor Employees? A Quick Guide to CCTV, GPS, Email & Privacy Law (NZ)

It’s a question I’m asked regularly, “Can we monitor our staff?” The short answer is yes, you can. But the long answer, and the part many employers miss, is that monitoring is only lawful when it’s reasonable, clearly communicated, and aligned with your obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 and the Employment Relations Act. Whether you’re using CCTV, vehicle GPS, email monitoring or time-tracking apps, the key is transparency and fairness.Monitoring includes anything that tracks or ...

‘Tis the Season… for HR Headaches: How to Manage Christmas Work Parties Responsibly

It’s that time of year again, the silly season is upon us. Every December, without fail, I find myself waiting for the calls. The ones that start with, “Hey Debbie… something’s happened at the Christmas party…”And nine times out of ten, the story includes two familiar characters: intoxication and sexual harassment.Work Christmas parties are meant to be fun. They’re a chance to mark the end of a big year, celebrate wins, and let the team relax. But they’re also a workplace event, ...

Mental Health at Work – Navigating Performance Concerns and Mental Health

Mental health is now one of the most common reasons employees ask for support or take time off, and it’s a positive sign that people feel more comfortable speaking up. But many small business owners still feel unsure how to respond when someone’s wellbeing starts affecting their work.Questions like these come up often:“If they say it’s stress, can I still performance manage them?”“Do I deal with their behaviour or talk about their health?”“Am I even allowed to ask for medical inf...

How to Handle Employee Misconduct Without Ending Up in the ERA

Dealing with misconduct can feel like walking through a minefield. Whether it’s lateness, rudeness, safety breaches, or a serious incident, many employers panic and want to act quickly. That urgency is understandable, especially in small and medium sized businesses where one person’s behaviour affects the whole team.But here’s the trap: moving too fast without a proper process is the fastest way to end up in the ERA (Employment Relations Authority). It’s not the misconduct itself that ge...

Probation vs Trial Period: What NZ Employers Need to Know

Many New Zealand employers get confused about the difference between a probationary period and a trial period. While both relate to the early stages of employment, they serve very different purposes and come with very different legal rights and risks.With the law being strict around trial periods in particular, it’s essential to understand how each one works so you can use them correctly and avoid costly mistakes.Here’s a simple guide to help you get it right.What Is a Probationary Period?A ...

What to Pay Employees for Stat Days Over Christmas: A Simple Guide for NZ Employers

Christmas is fast approaching, which means employers across Aotearoa are preparing for one of the busiest periods of the year. Alongside managing leave requests, reduced hours, and shutdowns, one common question always pops up:“What do I need to pay my employees for public holidays?”To help make things easier, here’s a clear breakdown of how statutory (public) holiday pay works under New Zealand employment law, and how to get it right this Christmas.When is an employee entitled to be paid ...

Managing Sick Leave: A Practical Guide for Small Business Employers

Sick leave is one of the most common issues employers face, and it can quickly become confusing when different situations arise across your team. Understanding the rules and having a consistent, fair approach helps protect your business, supports your people, and reduces the risk of conflict or personal grievances. Managing sick leave well is also an important part of maintaining a healthy, productive workplace.In New Zealand, most employees become entitled to sick leave after six months of cont...

Building a Strong Team and Culture in a Small Business

In today’s business environment, small businesses are competing not only for customers but for great people. The way you lead, support and develop your team has a direct impact on productivity, retention and how well your business can adapt to change. With technology evolving, customer expectations shifting, and flexibility becoming normal, your team is one of your most important assets — and getting this right is key to long-term success.For small businesses, culture often forms naturally t...

Can I Cut an Employee’s Hours or Pay? A Simple Guide for NZ Employers

Reducing an employee’s hours or pay is a common concern for New Zealand employers, particularly during periods of financial pressure, shifting customer demand or operational change. While these situations can create a genuine need to adjust staffing levels, any change to hours or pay must be handled carefully and lawfully. In New Zealand, these terms form part of the employment agreement, which means they cannot be altered without following a fair and transparent process.The first step in maki...

Recruiting the Right Way: How Businesses Can Hire with Confidence

Recruiting the right person can make or break a small business. Get it right, and you gain someone who adds value, fits your culture, and helps you grow. Get it wrong, and you can spend months managing performance issues or starting the process all over again.At proHR, we often see business owners rushing recruitment because they need “someone now.” But slowing down and putting a clear process in place almost always saves time and money in the long run.Start with clarityBefore you advertise,...

10 HR Tasks Small Businesses Often Outsource (and Why It Makes Sense)

Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats — sometimes too many. When you’re juggling operations, customers, and cash flow, HR can easily slip down the list. The trouble is, when people issues are left too long, they often become expensive problems.That’s why many small business owners choose to outsource parts, or all, of their HR function. It’s flexible, affordable, and means you get expert support only when you need it.Here are ten of the most common HR tasks small businesse...

The Rise of Flexible and Hybrid Work in New Zealand

Why It’s Now a Must Have, Not a Nice to HaveOver the past few years, the way New Zealanders work has changed dramatically. What started as a short-term pandemic response has evolved into a long-term shift, with flexibility and hybrid work now becoming permanent expectations rather than perks.According to HRNZ, more than 70 percent of New Zealand employers have now adopted some form of flexible or remote working policy, and around four in five businesses offer flexible start and finish times. W...

Managing Employees on ACC: What Employers Need to Know

When an employee is injured and covered by ACC, it can be confusing to know what your obligations are as an employer. Balancing compassion with compliance is key, and understanding how ACC payments work will help you manage the process smoothly and fairly.Understanding ACC and Employer ObligationsIf an employee is injured at work or outside of work, they may be eligible for weekly compensation from ACC after the first week of injury. During that first week, you as the employer must pay them 80% ...

Performance Issues: How to Manage Them Fairly and Legally

Every business has times when an employee’s performance doesn’t meet expectations. It might be missed deadlines, errors, poor communication, or simply not keeping up with the demands of the role. For small business owners, it can be uncomfortable to address but ignoring the problem usually makes things worse. The key is to manage performance issues fairly, consistently, and in line with New Zealand employment law.The first step is to make sure your expectations are clear. Often, performance ...

Understanding the Difference Between Full-Time, Part-Time, Casual, and Fixed-Term Employees

If you employ staff in New Zealand, it’s important to understand the key differences between full-time, part-time, casual and fixed-term employment. Each type has its own legal obligations and entitlements under the Employment Relations Act and the Holidays Act, and getting it wrong can create compliance and payroll headaches later.Let’s break down the main types of employment in simple terms.Full-Time EmploymentFull-time employees usually work around 35 to 40 hours a week on a regular and o...

Upcoming Changes to the Holidays Act - What Small Businesses Need to Know

The government is planning to replace the Holidays Act 2003 with a new law designed to make things simpler and fairer for everyone. The current Act has long been criticised for being confusing and difficult to apply, especially for small businesses that have employees working variable hours or on different pay cycles. The new law will make it easier to calculate leave and ensure that employees get what they’re entitled to, without creating unnecessary admin headaches for employers.One of the b...

Christmas Closedown: What Employers Need to Know About Giving Notice for Annual Leave

As the end of the year approaches, many businesses across New Zealand start planning for their annual Christmas closedown. Whether you’re shutting your doors completely or running a smaller team through the holiday period, it’s important to make sure you handle your employees’ leave correctly, especially when it comes to giving notice for annual leave. What the law says Under the Holidays Act 2003, employers can require employees to take annual leave during a customary closedown (for examp...

Redundancy: Things Employers Need to Know

The current tough economic conditions mean we are seeing a dramatic increase in redundancies across all sectors in New Zealand. The cost of living has increased and business growth has slowed. Sadly, this is affecting many individuals and small business employers.It is important for individuals going through a redundancy process to be aware of their rights, and it is equally important for employers understand their obligations.An employer must follow a fair process when they want to make an empl...

90 Day Trial Periods are back – what does this mean?

In December 2023, the recently elected National Government reintroduced 90 day trial periods into New Zealand employment legislation. Many small business employers believe this means they can terminate a new employee within the first 90 days without reason. But…………………..there are a few things to keep in mind.While an employee cannot raise a personal grievance in respect of a termination under a valid trial period, this does not mean an employee cannot bring a claim under any circums...