Essential reading for employers

Employers are wasting time and money through ignorance of employment issues, says Neil Story, managing director of Brookers.

Launching Brookers' new book, Employment and Your Business, Story says latest Department of Labour figures showed there were 9256 applications for mediation services in the past year - 12 per cent more than the previous year.

"The statistics confirmed our belief that many employers are facing personal grievance claims because they do not understand their legal requirements. Whether the problem relates to disciplinary procedures or calculating holiday pay, the cost to the business can be huge.

"It was these statistics, which the department has predicted will continue to increase, and our own research which highlighted there is a need for a simple, practical, concise summation of all employment law relevant to New Zealand businesses."

The book launch has been timed to coincide with major changes to holidays law, which come into force on Thursday.

The book is the second Brookers has launched this year in its new BusinessWise series - written for small to medium-sized businesses.

Both books are complemented by a website, www.businesswise.co.nz

Karen Spackman, partner and employment lawyer at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, says, "Employment and Your Business is an invaluable tool for businesses. It provides a clear summary of the statutory obligations that businesses must adhere to. Every business should keep this handy, whether they use it to review their current compliance with the law, or as a reference for when they are unsure about their statutory requirements."

- NZPA