In a previous post I highlighted that MBIE has released an updated version of their publication Holidays Act 2003: Guidance on annual holidays, bereavement leave, alternative holidays, public holidays and sick leave. MBIE has now made an announcement about its release and this post will comment on that announcement section by section. NZPPA does not […]
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WHY PAYROLL NEEDS TO BE PART OF FINANCE AND NOT HR
To start with, if payroll works, is effective and achieves everything it needs to, then wherever it currently sits – leave it alone! Don’t play with something that works! NZPPA’s position on this age-old question is that if your business is deciding where payroll should sit it should always go under Finance as payroll is […]
SEVEN THINGS TO MAKE THE HOLIDAYS ACT 2003 WORKABLE
Now, let’s start with a few statements to frame the background of this post. The Holidays Act is unworkable because it is overly complex and lacks clear definitions. In addition, MBIE can tell you that you are not compliant, but can’t tell you how to get it right. The Act won’t change in the near […]
IMPORTANT FOR NZ PAYROLL: FEEDBACK SOUGHT ON OPTIONS TO TRIM EMPLOYER PAYE COSTS
Revenue Minister Judith Collins has welcomed the release of a tax officials’ paper, seeking feedback on options to reduce the cost to employers of administering PAYE information. “We are aware that certain aspects of PAYE, such as correcting simple errors and sending that information to Inland Revenue, are still largely manual. This can impose excessive […]
SICK AND BEREAVEMENT LEAVE FOR PETS, REALLY!
Now for something different. At NZPPA on a regular basis this question comes up: Can an employee take sick or bereavement leave provided under the Holidays Act for their pets? The short answer is no. If you classify your employees as pets well that is a totally different problem altogether and is not the focus […]
How to get the Holidays Act wrong and even worse!
Please note: In NZPPA’s experience of working with employers and professional payroll practitioners, their focus is always to do the best for employees by following the law and paying staff correctly and on time. In relation to how MBIE reports the cases they are involved in and the way in which some political parties promote […]
MBIE’s new Holidays Act 2003 Guidance on annual holidays and related provisions – “err on the side of caution”
A couple of things to make clear from the start: Firstly, NZPPA is not stating don’t use this guidance. There are some useful points to back up areas that have been used in payroll for many years when working with the Holidays Act, but up to this time there has been little in the way […]
Sir Michael Cullen: Make KiwiSaver compulsory
It’s time to make KiwiSaver compulsory, and its incentives should be lifted again to help low- and middle-income savers, says the scheme’s architect, Sir Michael Cullen. Cullen was Finance Minister in the Labour Government which launched the retirement saving scheme 10 years ago today. KiwiSaver now has more than 2.7 million members and over $40 […]
Important to know for PAYROLL – MBIE: New Holidays Act 2003 guidance available online
New guidance intended to help employers, employees and payroll providers in applying aspects of the Holidays Act 2003 is now available online. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has published new guidance intended to help employers, employees and payroll providers in applying aspects of the Holidays Act 2003 (the Act), as part of […]
Labour wants higher minimum wage and revised trial periods
The Labour Party says it will lift the minimum wage, make trial periods fairer, and set minimum pay standards for each industry if it comes into power in September. The party released its industrial relations policy today, saying it would ensure that working people received a greater share of New Zealand’s economic growth. Labour leader […]