Employment Law for Employers: Top Tips

Julia Shallcrass is an award winning lawyer, and part of the team behind UC Online’s Employment Law course, drawing on her expertise in areas of employment and privacy law. 

As a director and founder of KiwiBoss, Julia has a wealth of experience supporting leaders, HR professionals and teams across Aotearoa New Zealand to build and maintain positive employment relations.

We chatted to Julia about some of her top tips around employment law for employers.

What are your top three employment law tips for employers wanting to reduce risk and improve workplace culture?

1. Talk to your people regularly. Meet with staff in one-to-one sessions to understand how they are feeling and to pick up early signs of potential issues. Regular conversations also help managers build stronger relationships. 

2. Use engagement surveys and exit interviews. These tools give honest feedback and data on what is happening in your workplace and where to make improvements. 

3. Invest in leadership training. When managers understand the law, your organisation’s values, and how to lead staff effectively, you strengthen both legal compliance and workplace culture.

How can good employment relations practices help employers meet their obligations more easily?

Good employment relations practices make it easier for employers to meet their legal obligations because they set the foundation for fair process. 

Employers should communicate openly, keep accurate records and follow fair procedures to comply with their obligations under the Employment Relations Act 2000. This also reduces the risk of personal grievances.

Open communication helps managers identify workplace issues early and address concerns before they escalate into bigger problems.

What is a common employment law mistake managers make before they receive formal training?

Holiday pay mistakes are common and widespread throughout New Zealand. Labour Inspectorate audits have shown that many employers have struggled to meet the requirements of the Holidays Act.*  

Managers often rely on payroll systems without checking that information has been entered correctly, which can lead to underpayments and personal grievances.  

The Holidays Act is complex to administer, so it helps to carry out random spot checks to make sure your payroll provider is calculating entitlements correctly. Many of these issues are easy to prevent. With the right training, managers can identify risks early and approach employment decisions with more clarity and confidence. 

*The Employment Leave Act was passed into law on 6 August 2026. Our Employment Law for Employers course covers the Holidays Act 2003, which remains the applicable law until the new leave rules take effect on 6 August 2028.

What essential parts of the Employment Relations Act should every manager understand from day one?

Managers should understand the duty of good faith under the Employment Relations Act 2000. This includes communicating openly and providing relevant information before making decisions that may affect an employee’s employment.

Managers should also understand the basics of fair process, particularly when managing misconduct or poor performance. Employers should clearly explain concerns, provide relevant information and give employees a genuine opportunity to respond.

Managers should also understand minimum employment standards, including leave and working hours. This helps them make fair, lawful decisions in everyday situations.

If an employer could only improve one thing in their employment law understanding, what would you recommend and why?

Employment law training is essential for business owners. Many employers simply do not know what they don’t know. Training helps business owners and managers identify issues early, follow fair process confidently, and reduce the risk of costly mistakes. 

Ready to strengthen your understanding of employment law and learn how to meet the legal requirements for workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand? Employment Law Essentials is a flexible short course, giving you work-ready skills in just 20-hours through interactive online learning.