Here’s a brief overview of law changes that have recently, or will soon, come into effect. Check out what information applies to your business.
When: From April 2019
What: Employers and people who are self-employed will on average pay 6.9 percent less for their ACC Work Account levy over the coming two years.
Why: This reduction comes after standard public consultation.
What you need to do: Nothing. If you’re a small business owner, ACC will update your levies for you.
Note that if you’re self-employed, ACC is also changing the way you’re levied. In future, the income from your tax return will be used to calculate your levy for the same year. ACC will begin talking to self-employed people about this in April 2019.
For more information, get in touch with ACC’s business contact centre:
Employers — phone 0800 222 776 (Monday to Friday 7am – 7pm)
Self-employed — phone 0508 426 837
When: 1 April 2019
What: Any employee who’s been affected by domestic violence can request paid leave from their employer — up to 10 days per year. This leave is separate from annual, sick, and bereavement leave.
Why: So that people affected by domestic violence can have time to deal with the effects of that violence. These people can also request short-term flexible working arrangements.
What you need to do: Employers will need to consider the following requirements:
Visit the Workplace Policy Builder to design a policy that complies with the new Act.
Visit the Employment New Zealand(external link) web site, call Employment New Zealand toll free on 0800 20 90 20, or email employment@employment.govt.nz.
If you have a question about discrimination in employment, contact the Human Rights Commission on 0800 496 877, or email infoline@hrc.co.nz.
When: From 6 May 2019
What: The following changes to the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 come into effect.
Why: The Act restores protections for employees, especially vulnerable employees, and strengthens the role of collective bargaining in the workplace.
What you need to do: You’ll need to take the following actions to get up to date with the most recent amendments.
If your business is operating under collective employment agreements, now is a good time to review these agreements with your unions.
Get more detail on the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018(external link) — Employment New Zealand
Vulnerable industries(external link) — Legislation.govt.nz
Visit the Employment New Zealand(external link) web site, call Employment New Zealand toll free on 0800 20 90 20, or email employment@employment.govt.nz.
When: 1 April 2019
What: The new minimum wage rates, before tax, are:
Starting-out and training minimum wages are 80% of the adult minimum wage.
Why: Government must by law review the minimum wage rates every year.
What you need to do: If your employment agreements are a few years old, you can use this as a chance to update them using our Employment Agreement Builder. It’s a legal requirement to have a written employment agreement with all your staff.
Visit the Employment New Zealand(external link) web site, call Employment New Zealand toll free on 0800 20 90 20, or email employment@employment.govt.nz.
When: 1 April 2019
What: All employers need to switch to payday filing.
Why: To simplify tax processes.
What you need to do: If your business pays $50,000 or more a year in PAYE tax and Employer Superannuation Contribution tax, you have to file electronically from 1 April 2019. You can still file on paper if you pay less than $50,000.
Businesses should make sure they’re ready for payday filing.
Payday filing(external link) — Inland Revenue
Contact Inland Revenue on 0800 377 772, or email IRTransformation@ird.govt.nz.