Employee rights
Find information and support available to you as an employee.
See 6 types of employee support on this page
Employment e-learning modules
Employment New Zealand
Learn about important employment information – it is free to access.
What it's about
The modules give an overview of some of the minimum rights and responsibilities that apply by law in New Zealand.
The modules will give you information in 5 different languages about employment law and get you thinking about your rights and responsibilities.
Who it's for
It’s for employers and employees.
Leave and holiday guide
Employment New Zealand
Online guide to help you understand minimum leave and holiday entitlements.
What it's about
This guide provides information about your minimum leave and holiday legal entitlements.
Who it's for
It’s for employers and employees.
Minimum rights of employees guide
Employment New Zealand
Learn about minimum employment rights. The information is available in different languages.
What it's about
Information on minimum employment rights and responsibilities is available in a range of languages. The minimum rights of an employee are the responsibility of your employer.
Knowing and understanding the minimum rights will help protect employees at work.
Who it's for
This information is for anyone wanting to know about minimum employment rights.
Overview of the hiring process
Business.govt.nz
Business.govt.nz has an overview of the hiring process to guide you through the process of adding new people to your team.
What it's about
The hiring overview has:
- tips
- a visual step-by-step guide to hiring
- a checklist of tasks
- a quiz on employment basics
Designed to help small businesses be prepared to grow and efficiently start hiring staff.
Who it's for
Business.govt.nz is free to use by any member of the public. The content is designed with New Zealand small businesses front of mind.
Weekly compensation
Accident Compensation Corporation
Find out how you can still have an income while you’re recovering from an ACC injury.
What it's about
ACC will pay your income as weekly compensation if you’re unable to work because of an injury they're covering. This means you'll still get paid while you recover.
ACC will pay up to 80% of your income.
Who it's for
People who are employed and have an injury covered by ACC.
Parental leave eligibility tool
Employment New Zealand
This tool can help you determine if you or your partner are entitled to parental leave.
What it's about
You may be able to take leave from work to care for your new child. To take parental leave you must meet either the six or twelve month criteria. You can now calculate how much parental leave you or your partner are entitled to by using the parental leave eligibility tool.
This will help you determine if you or your partner are entitled to parental leave.
Who it's for
This tool is for employees looking to apply for parental leave.
Early Resolution
Employment New Zealand
The Early Resolution Service within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is a free phone-based service for employees and employers providing assistance to resolve a workplace issue early, quickly, and informally, before it becomes too serious or needs a more formal process.
What it's about
Early Resolution assistance might involve:
- speaking with you and the other party to understand what has happened and what is important for each of you
- making sure everyone is fully informed with relevant information
- arranging a discussion to see if a resolution could be reached
- helping to negotiate an agreed outcome
- referring you to a more appropriate agency if that would help.
Who it's for
Early Resolution is available and free to use for both employees and employers.
What it offers
Early Resolution is a free phone-based service, and is available to both employers and employees. The online enquiry and booking process is easy to use. Any information provided will be treated as confidential.
Employment Mediation Service
Employment New Zealand
Use Employment New Zealand’s free mediation service to resolve employment relationship problem in a confidential manner.
What it's about
Employment New Zealand provides a free mediation service to help employers and employees resolve their employment relationship problems in a confidential manner.
Mediators can assist employers and employees to find their own solution to employment relationship problems.
Who it's for
Anyone involved in an employment problem, including migrants, students, people on temporary working visas, contractors and representatives.
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