Many business owners fail to understand the importance of good employment lawyers until they find themselves in a tricky situation. With that in mind, in this short article, we are going to talk about a few of the reasons why having good employment lawyers in Auckland on call is a very good idea. Ideally, you want to have such a qualified person on staff, but if you own a small company that may not be feasible. However, you can establish a good relationship with a law firm in Auckland.
Perhaps one of the main situations in which employment lawyers in Auckland can be helpful is when it comes to firing an employee. Many employers bemoan the fact that it is not easy to sack an employee these days. Simply firing someone can lead to all sorts of expensive exposure. For example, gender or age discrimination, unfair dismissal, or many other cases.
A particularly difficult area relates to redundancy. An employer cannot simply decide that a role is going to be removed to get rid of a difficult employer. This is a potentially dangerous approach. Redundancy has a very clear set of requirements which you can see on this page from the NZ Department of Employment. By seeking advice from a good employment lawyer before trying to make a worker redundant, you can protect yourself from future action by the staff member.
Employment lawyers are also important when it comes to a company’s handbook. The typical handbook will contain the Company’s operating policies but it is important to make sure that those policies do not violate any laws. These policies will usually include those relating to employee relations including disciplinary processes, expected behaviour, and other work matters so it is important to ensure it is worded carefully. Having a reputable employment lawyer check a completed handbook is essential for companies to avoid future legal problems.
Another important area where a good employment lawyer in Auckland can help is in drafting employment contracts, or more correctly, Employment Agreements. Every employee must be given a Job Description, and an Employment Agreement. Failure to do so can result in significant financial penalties. It is important that the contract is either written by an employment lawyer, or at least, checked by one. The particular wording and phrasing is important so do yourself a favour and consult an employment lawyer in Auckland to make sure your employment documents meet the requirements of the various employment Acts.
For advice on any of these topics, or other employment related issues, a very experienced employment lawyer in Auckland is McVeagh Fleming. You can find more details from their website at
Posted in: Employment lawyers | Tags: Employment lawyers in Auckland
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