Description
Employment law has changed again, and employers need to understand what the latest reforms mean in practice
Recent amendments to the Employment Relations Act 2000 introduce important changes affecting how employers hire, manage and dismiss staff.
The reforms are intended to increase flexibility for businesses while providing clearer rules for workers.
In this practical webinar, employment lawyer Julia Shallcrass explains the changes and what employers should do now.
Find out how changes to contractor status, personal grievance remedies, and unjustified dismissal claims for high-income earners may affect your organisation.
The session will also highlight other key updates, including partial strike deductions, and the minimum wage increase from 1 April 2026. Consider practical steps to review contracts and reduce employment law risk.
The webinar will cover:
- The new contractor gateway test and when a worker will be treated as a contractor
- Changes to personal grievance remedies, including when compensation or reinstatement may no longer be available
- The $200,000 income threshold limiting unjustified dismissal claims and transitional arrangements
- Removal of the 30-day rule for new employees under collective agreements
- Partial strike deductions and what employers can now do
- Minimum wage increases from 1 April 2026
- Practical steps employers and advisers should take to update employment processes
This essential update will help ensure your organization's employment practices remain compliant and up to date.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand the key changes introduced by the Employment Relations Amendment Act
- Identify how the new contractor gateway test affects contractor arrangements
- Assess how changes to personal grievance remedies may affect employment disputes
- Understand the $200,000 income threshold for unjustified dismissal claims and the transitional rules
- Apply the removal of the 30-day rule in hiring processes
- Recognise the impact of partial strike deductions and minimum wage increases
- Identify practical steps to update workplace processes and employment documentation.
Participants will take away practical strategies to effectively manage and implement legal changes.
SUITED TO
This webinar is suitable for professionals who need to understand employment law changes affecting workplaces in New Zealand.
It is useful for lawyers and business advisers, in-house counsel, business owners, HR professionals, and people leaders responsible for managing staff.
This session provides a practical overview suitable for both advisers and leaders.
You might be interested exploring additional titles on similar and other topics presented by this organisation.
PRESENTER
Julia Shallcrass, Director and Lawyer of KiwiBoss
Julia is an employment and privacy lawyer with over 17 years of experience in legal education. As founder of KiwiBoss, she helps HR professionals, managers, and leaders navigate workplace challenges while ensuring compliance with employment laws. Known for her practical and engaging training style, Julia delivers in-house and public courses both virtually and across New Zealand. KiwiBoss training helps participants develop clear, actionable strategies for improving productivity. She’s also an employment columnist for the NZ Herald and was named one of NZ Lawyer’s Elite Women in 2024 for her contributions to the profession. To explore KiwiBoss training opportunities and stay updated on upcoming courses and webinars, visit Kiwiboss.co.nz.