www.ers.dol.govt.nz/
KEY POINTS:
If you want a one-stop site that tells you all you want to know about employment law in New Zealand but were afraid to ask, this is the site for you.
Run by the Department of Labour, the Employment Relations Service site says it "contains basic information on laws relating to the workplace" and "outlines the main rights and obligations of employers and employees".
Information on just about everything relating to employment law and relationships is here.
At the top of the page are tabs, titled "Holidays" (which includes the holidays online tool previously featured), "Pay", "Good faith", "Union matters", "Education", "Parental leave", "Problem solving", "Collective bargaining" and "Fact sheets & publications". Click on the area you want to find out about and start exploring.
The fact sheets and publications page is a good place to start, with printer-friendly material on everything from youth employment to holidays and shop trading hours.
There are many more downloadable resources. You can also subscribe to the ERA mailing list, so you are informed when a report is released.
Under "Employment agreements" you'll find a tool to help you build an agreement and a variety of downloadable covering letters. Under "Union matters", you'll find links to a union directory and a facility to find out what union you can join. The "Problem solving" section covers everything from the first steps right up to going to the Employment Court.
This site is an invaluable resource for sorting out rights and responsibilities and finding out what the law is.
Send your nominations for work-related websites of the week to ashley.campbell@nzherald.co.nz
