Warning - Employment Law Changes Will Affect You!

The author of a plain language guide to New Zealand's employment laws warns employers to keep themselves up to date with changes to these laws - or risk prosecution or actions in the Employment Relations Authority.

"Many employers are still not complying with all the requirements of the Employment Relations Act, which came into force nearly 18 months ago," says Richard Rudman, author of the New Zealand Employment Law Guide. The up-to-date 2002 Guide is published this month.

"They have some catching up to do. They may not even be aware that there were changes to the Human Rights Act on 1 January this year. And there's a lot more change to come."

Rudman says that employers risk damaging their reputations if they are not ready for new accident compensation law on 1 April or the introduction of paid parental leave on 1 July.

"Significant changes to health and safety law will come into force later in the year, along with new law on industrial training, and a new Holidays Act.

"It's difficult for employers and managers, especially in smaller organisations, to keep up with all these changes. They need easy access to clear information and guidance on what they have to do," says Rudman.

Written in an easy-to-understand style, the New Zealand Employment Law Guid e gives a comprehensive description of nearly 30 employment law statutes and their requirements.

The guide is available from March 4 at all good bookstores or by phoning 0800 500 224 and will retail for $39 including GST.

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