Employees

Employees

Redundancy and Role Changes

If your employer wants to make changes to your role, they must follow a process. Holding employers accountable to the process can lead to better results than disputing a decision that’s been made.

If you’ve received a letter or document suggesting a restructure, redundancy, or if you’ve been told you’re redundant, call us.

Employees

Raising a Personal Grievance

If you think you have been treated unfairly at work or if you have been dismissed from your position, you may have a valid personal grievance. 

You only have 90 days to raise the grievance. Our team will guide you through the process of what to expect when raising one and help you achieve a positive outcome. 

Employees

Harassment At Work

There is protection in New Zealand law to prevent bullying and harassment at work. Employers need to appropriately deal with complaints and have obligations to both the complainant and the person being complained about. Both of these parties should have advice throughout the process.

Your employer is obligated to provide a healthy and safe work environment for you which includes protecting you.

Getting advice early and appropriately responding to a complaint is essential.

For help raising and navigating concerns of bullying, please contact us.

Employees

Reviewing Employment Agreements

Have you been offered a new role? Congratulations!

To ensure that you are starting your new employment on the right foot we will:

• review your proposed employment agreement to ensure that it complies with the law; and
• guide you on some points you may wish to negotiate with your proposed new employer.

Employees

Discrimination at Work

Do you feel you are being treated differently by a potential employer or someone in your workplace because of your gender, sexual orientation, family status, race or religion (for example)?

The Human Rights Act protects against this and if this is happening in your workplace we can assist you.  Our team are experienced in assisting in cases where discrimination is alleged.

Employees

Mediation

When employment relationship problems arise a key option for resolution is mediation.

Our team regularly represents employees at mediation with the aim of reaching an appropriate and expedient resolution. 

Where resolution is not reached our experienced team also represent clients at the Employment Relations Authority, the Human Rights Review Tribunal or other forums if necessary.

Employees

Other

At Morrison Kent our family law experience encompasses the full breadth of employment issues. We listen to you, we focus on your needs, we explain the law and legal processes in plain language, consider practical solutions and use emotional intelligence to achieve the best outcomes.

Performance Improvement Plan Reviews

Employers are required to provide you with the opportunity to improve your performance and appropriate training to do so.

Performance Improvement Plans need to contain specific information.

If you have been presented with a proposed performance improvement plan you should obtain a legal review and assistance with the process.

Restraints of Trade

Employment agreements often have restraint provisions.  ‘Restraint of trade’ is often used loosely to describe a number of ways your employer or previous employer is trying to protect their business. 

Acting against a restraint provision comes with risks and it is important to understand those risks before taking up a new position or establishing your own business. 

Parental Leave

New Zealand legislation has protection for employees who need to take time off to care for a newborn child or an adoptive child coming into your care.

If your employer has not complied with the legislation, you can raise a parental leave complaint.

Employment Litigation

Our expert employment lawyers all have significant litigation experience so you with receive continuity of service in the event you are required to pursue your claim in at the Employment Relations Authority or in other litigation forums.

There are a number of options to resolve matters before litigation is necessary, but when litigation is the next step, having an experienced litigator on your side makes all the difference.

Litigation can be time-consuming and stressful but with the right advice and knowing the potential timeframes and issues at the start of the process puts you in the best position to advance your case.