Employment New Zealand: Employment-related COVID-19 information

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the workplace - Guidance for employees, employers and businesses, and financial support.

Wage subsidy scheme - The Wage Subsidy Scheme has been developed to help businesses and affected workers in the short-term, as they adjust to the initial impact of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme - Financial support for people in situations where they are either sick with COVID-19, have been exposed to the virus, or need to stay away from work because they or their bubble are at higher health risk if they get the virus and cannot work from home.

Leave and pay entitlement - Your rights and responsibilities regarding pay and leave during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Modifying employee agreements during COVID-19 - Options on how to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 in the workplace if the employer need to make changes on existing employment conditions on employment agreements. This also covers ‘Changing the hours of work’.

Terminating employment agreements because of COVID-19 - Good faith processes to follow for workplace change, and redundancy should only be considered if no suitable alternative arrangements have been found. This also covers ‘Redundancy’).

Covid-19 and the minimum wage - Guidance for employees and employers on the 1 April 2020 minimum wage increase during all Alert Levels.

Addressing health and safety concerns – Health and safety guidance for workers and businesses operating during Level 4 and Level 3.

Making a complaint about an employer regarding the Wage Subsidy or Leave Support Schemes - If you, as an employee, believe your employer is receiving the Wage Subsidy or Leave Support Schemes, but not meeting the conditions they agreed to, here are the steps to resolve your concerns or make a complaint.

Employment New Zealand: Employment rights and responsibilities information

It is important that people are aware that minimum employment rights and responsibilities still apply and employers cannot make any changes to the employment agreement conditions without the written agreement of their employees.

Employment New Zealand has a range of resources for employees and employers from booklets to modules.

Know your employment rights (Quick guide)

A quick overview of key employee minimum rights. Available in 19 languages.

Rights and responsibilities (employees and employers) other resources

Minimum employment rights and responsibilities has more detailed information about minimum employment rights and responsibilities. Available in 15 languages.

Employment Learning Modules (free online learning on essential employment information for employees and employers). The module ‘An Introduction to Your Employment Rights’ is available in: Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Samoan, Korean and Tagalog.

To receive the Employment New Zealand newsletter please Subscribe to our newsletter.

Employment New Zealand Facebook and LinkedIn pages are where we share useful information and respond to questions. 

More information

For employment-related queries or for more information, visit www.employment.govt.nzor call our phone line on 0800 20 90 20 toll-free to speak with one of our staff. Interpreters are available for over 180 different languages. 

Other New Zealand Government links

For latest COVID-19 New Zealand Government information, visit: Unite Against COVID-19 | New Zealand Government.

·         Businesses and employees - Information for employers, employees and essential businesses and services.

·         Individuals and households - Find out how you and your household can access healthcare, support and essential services.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) has a wider list of government links including for landlords and tenants: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Ministry of Health for health advice.

WorkSafe NZ for information on how to work at a safe distance

Business.govt.nz for business support eg Business Finance Guarantee Scheme

Immigration New Zealand: the COVID-19 Migrant and Refugee Information webpage is for settlement service providers, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), community groups, or individuals who work with or know recent migrants and/or former refugees.

We hope this information is helpful.