We're well in to the swing of the Festive season! If you are an Employer and not 100% sure if you have given full consideration to your teams pay and entitlements, then read on for our quick overview...
Christmas & New Year 2024
These are falling on Wednesday and Thursday this year. Employees who would have otherwise worked on these days are eligible to be paid what they would have otherwise been paid had they worked. If any of your employees are working on any of public holidays they will need to be paid a half time extra for the hours they work. They will also be eligible to an alternate day if that criteria is met. They also need to be paid the balance of contractual hours if shorter days are worked on public holidays as you cannot contract out of those.
Closedowns
We are hearing that a number of employers are looking to have a closedown over the festive season with a good number aiming to finish the year on 20th December. If you are one of these employers, key tips to remember are;
- Check that you can apply a closedown if you have already had one in the last 12 months; and
- Give at least 14 days' notice in writing of the planned closedown; and
- Confirm if you are requiring employees with annual holiday entitlements to take those; and
- Confirm arrangements for employees who do not have annual holiday entitlements
Transferring Public Holidays
In some circumstances, you can agree with some or all of your employees to transfer public holidays to be observed on other days. An example could be agreeing that New Year's Day is moved to Friday 3rd January for Monday to Friday employees so that employees get a 4-day weekend. The reason cannot be to avoid paying public holiday payments. If seeking agreement to transfer a public holiday is something you are considering trying to agree with your employees some key notes are;
- Any request by the employer or employee to transfer a public holiday must be made and agreed in writing. If either party does not agree then the public holiday must be observed on the usual day it falls.
- The date the public holiday is being transferred to must be identified and be another day the employee would have normally worked (an otherwise working day).
- If the employee then works the day the public holiday was transferred to then that day will need to be paid as if it was a public holiday.
If you have any questions around the upcoming public holidays, eligibility and payments get in touch with us!
** Note - Our offices will close on Tuesday 24th December and reopen on Monday 6th January. Greg Millard will be contactable via mobile 021 196 3395 or on email - greg@growhr.co.nz for any urgent queries or assistance whilst the office is closed **