http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.prohr.co.nz en-us Fri, 28 Aug 2026 15:23:37 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/169317/weve-had-enough-can-we-just-fire-them/ It is a question we hear surprisingly often.“We’ve had enough. Can we just fire them?”Usually, by the time an employer asks us this question, they are frustrated. There may have been ongoing performance issues, repeated absences, concerns about behaviour, complaints from other employees, or one incident that feels like the final straw.Sometimes the employer has very good reasons for being concerned.But having a good reason to be concerned and having a fair basis to dismiss someone are not ... Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:33:58 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post169317 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/169272/employment-law-is-changing-what-employers-need-to-know/ There has been a lot happening in New Zealand employment law recently, with a number of significant changes either already in force or on the horizon.For employers, it can be difficult to keep track of what has changed, what is still coming, and what needs to be done about it.Here is a quick snapshot of some of the key changes employers should have on their radar.The Holidays Act is being replacedOne of the biggest changes is the replacement of the Holidays Act 2003 with the new Employment Leave... Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:55:09 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post169272 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/167864/selling-a-business-employment-obligations-nz/ For many business owners, selling a business is the culmination of years of hard work. While much of the focus is understandably on the commercial aspects of the transaction, it is equally important to consider the impact the sale may have on employees.One of the most common misconceptions is that employees automatically transfer to the purchaser when a business is sold. This is not generally the case. Whether employees remain employed, transfer to the purchaser or become redundant depends on th... Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:17:13 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post167864 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/167193/contractor-or-employee-what-new-zealand-employers-need-to-know-about-the-new-contractor-rules/ Changes to New Zealand's employment law that took effect on 21 February 2026 have introduced a new statutory gateway test for determining whether certain workers are independent contractors.The aim of the changes is to provide greater certainty for businesses that engage genuine independent contractors. If the gateway test is met, the worker will generally be treated as a contractor under the Employment Relations Act, reducing the uncertainty that has previously existed around contractor status.... Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:50:42 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post167193 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/167191/performance-management-dont-wait-until-its-too-late/ One of the most common conversations I have with business owners starts with the same sentence:"I've put up with this for months. I just don't know what to do anymore."Whether it's missed deadlines, declining productivity, repeated mistakes or a lack of accountability, many employers delay addressing performance concerns in the hope that things will improve on their own. Unfortunately, they rarely do.Effective performance management isn't about looking for reasons to dismiss employees. It's abou... Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:26:31 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post167191 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/165952/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace-finding-the-balance-between-support-and-accountability/ Conversations about neurodiversity in the workplace have become increasingly common over recent years. As awareness grows, many employers are finding themselves navigating situations they may not have encountered before, including requests for workplace accommodations, discussions about ADHD or autism, and challenges around performance, communication and workplace behaviour.Unfortunately, these conversations can sometimes become polarised. On one side, employers may fear they are unable to addre... Sat, 06 Jun 2026 11:48:00 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post165952 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/164188/verbal-warnings/ A common theme I see when employers come to me for support with employee issues is the belief that a “verbal warning” has already been given and should count as part of a disciplinary process. Often, this is raised when an employer is looking to escalate matters and rely on previous steps taken. The difficulty is that, in many cases, what is being described as a verbal warning will not stand up to scrutiny as part of a fair and defensible process.In a New Zealand employment context, a verbal... Tue, 05 May 2026 12:50:55 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post164188 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/164144/outplacement-support-doing-the-right-thing-when-roles-come-to-an-end/ Outplacement Support: Supporting People Properly Through ChangeChange is part of running a business. At times, that change means roles are no longer required. While the commercial drivers behind those decisions are often clear, how they are carried out has a lasting impact.Outplacement support is one of the most practical ways to support employees through that transition while also protecting your business.What outplacement support actually isOutplacement support is structured, professional supp... Mon, 04 May 2026 13:56:49 +1200 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post164144 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/161559/how-360-leadership-feedback-can-transform-your-leadership-team/ Strong leadership plays a critical role in the success of any organisation. Leaders influence culture, decision making, team performance and ultimately business outcomes. Yet many leaders receive very little structured feedback on how their leadership is experienced by the people they work with every day.This is where 360° leadership feedback can be a powerful development tool.360° feedback gathers confidential feedback from a range of people who interact with a leader. This typically includes... Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:42:18 +1300 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post161559 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/post/160614/employment-law-changes-on-dismissals-what-nz-employers-need-to-know/ The Government has passed changes to the Employment Relations Act that significantly affect how unjustified dismissal claims and personal grievance remedies work in New Zealand. These changes are particularly important for employers because they alter both who can bring certain claims and what an employer may be required to pay if a grievance succeeds.The changes are expected to take effect very soon. In most cases, new employment laws apply shortly after they are formally signed off by the Gove... Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:25:45 +1300 http://www.prohr.co.nz/blog/#post160614