New Zealand Businesses Support Mondayising Bill

25 July 2012

New Zealand Businesses Support Mondayising Bill

Despite predictions of a large cost to business, Labour MP David Clark’s Holidays Amendment Bill, set to pass its first reading tonight, should find favour with the small business community, according to research conducted by MYOB.

In polling taken before last year’s election, as part of the nationwide MYOB Business Monitor survey, 50% of SME business owners said they supported the idea of Mondayising public holidays that fall on a weekend, while just 13% opposed the policy.

MYOB general manager Julian Smith says the survey, taken just prior to the November 2011 election, highlights that business owners tend to take a positive view of policies that support their employees.

“New Zealand’s business owners are very balanced in their approach to the Mondayising concept,” says Julian Smith.

“Although the Bill would create some extra cost that businesses would have to bear, the majority of business owners believe that the benefits to their employees – in having time off to spend with friends and family – and the productivity gains that come from a positive work life balance, are worth investing in.”

“Another key point for businesses is that the amendment will reduce the complexity around managing payroll when the ANZAC Day and Waitangi Day holidays fall on a weekend,” Mr Smith says.

“Any policy that provides greater consistency when applying legislative requirements will always find favour with the business community.”

The greatest support for the amendment comes from mid-sized businesses (20 – 199 employees), with 60% supporting Mondayising and 13% opposed, and sole traders, with 53% supporting and 9% opposed.

“Smaller employers, however, who are more sensitive to changes in operational costs, are less supportive of the Bill – though still broadly in favour,” says Julian Smith.

41% of micro businesses employers with fewer than five staff support the Bill, with 22% opposed, while 48% of small employers (5 – 19 staff) are in support, with 19% opposed.

The Bill will also be most popular with the transport and logistics sector, with 61% of business owners in the field supporting the policy, and just 11% opposed, as well as the construction and trades sector (56% support, 13% opposed) and the retail and hospitality sector (53% support, 18% opposed). The policy is least popular in the rural sector, with just 42% of agriculture and forestry businesses in support of Mondayising public holidays and 15% opposed.

“It’s interesting that, despite potentially facing the costs and complexity of managing additional public holidays, retailers and hospitality business owners are still generally in support of the amendment,” says Julian Smith.

“This highlights that – although the extra holidays will come at a cost to employers – public holidays do stimulate economic activity, as Kiwis take advantage of the time off to dine out, shop and enjoy a range of entertainment.”

“Given the generally positive way the business community views the concept – with a total of 87% of SME business owners either actively supporting or neutral on the policy – its good to see that the Bill is getting a hearing in the House.”

About the MYOB Business Monitor

The MYOB Business Monitor is a nationwide survey of over 1,000 New Zealand business owners, across a range of small and medium businesses, from sole traders to mid-sized companies, and representing the major industry sectors. The MYOB Business Monitor is designed to research key areas of business performance, including profitability, cash flow and pipeline work, as well as business confidence.

About MYOB

Established in 1991, MYOB is one of New Zealand’s largest business management software providers. Its 50+ products and services have been employed by more than one million businesses in New Zealand and Australia. MYOB serves businesses of all ages, types and sizes, delivering solutions that simplify accounting, payroll, client management, websites and much more. With a network of more than 20,000 accountants and other professional partners, it provides the support and tools that help make business life easier. Today, MYOB is extending its solutions online and delivering innovation through cloud computing, enabling clients to make smarter connections with their business partners and customers. For further information visit: www.myob.co.nz/smarterconnections.

ENDS

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