Decision on holiday rules

Hawkes Bay food processing company Watties has welcomed an Employment Court decision confirming the company and staff can transfer public holidays.

The decision clears up confusion about the company and staff being able to transfer a public holiday when part of a production shift falls within the holiday hours.

Watties spokesman Dave Robb said an interpretation of the newly implemented Holidays Act countered a long-held agreement with night-shift staff regarding public holidays.

Historically, in an example where a shift overlapped into a public holiday the next shift would be deemed as the employee's holiday.

The interpretation of the new act was that a public holiday was for a 24-hour period only, from midnight to midnight.

The court decision said while the case involved Watties and union defendants, seemingly on opposite sides, the two were not necessarily at cross-purposes.

Mr Robb said the decision allowed for common sense and practicality and would ensure less disruption to night staff and plant operations around public holidays.

It also provided certainty around the issue for shift operators.

- NZPA