The employment basics - rest breaks and annual leave

Managing your team involves understanding your legal obligations. Here’s a rundown of some of the key employment responsibilities under New Zealand law.

Back to basics

Under New Zealand law, employers must:

• Give all employees a written employment agreement or contract.

• Pay employees at least the minimum wage for all the hours they work.

• Pay employees in cash (money) unless they have agreed to a form of direct credit.

• Not deduct money out of employees’ wages unless the law allows it (such as for student loan payments) or an employee gives written authorisation.

• Provide a workplace that is healthy, safe, and free from discrimination and bullying.

• Allow staff to join a union if they want to, free from pressure.

• Accept that employees can resign at any time by notifying you they are leaving and working out the notice period stated in their contracts.

  
  

Rest breaks

Employees need regular rest and meal breaks. For people working eight hours or longer, two 10-minute breaks and an unpaid 30-minute lunch break are required. People working six hours need one 10-minute break and a 30-minute lunch break.

Annual leave

Staff are entitled to a minimum four weeks' paid annual leave after they have worked for you for 12 months. They are also allowed 12 paid public holidays to the extent they fall on days they normally work.

The government has announced plans to move to an accrual system for annual leave in changes to the Holidays Act 2003. Read more about the government’s proposals here. We'll keep you posted.