Restructuring and Redundancies - Employee First NZ

Navigate workplace changes with confidence. At Employee First NZ, we provide expert employment advocacy to support employees in New Zealand through restructures and redundancies. Our state-of-the-art assistance is available anytime, anywhere, ensuring you have the preliminary guidance you need to protect your rights and secure your future.

What is Restructuring and Redundancy?

Workplace restructuring, often referred to as workplace change, involves changes that may impact your job, such as:

• Changes to Duties: Modifications to your role or responsibilities.

• Role Disestablishment: Elimination of your current position.

• Creation of New Roles: Introduction of new positions that may affect your job.

• Reduction in Staff: Decreasing the number of employees in similar roles.

• Merging Roles: Combining your role with others.

Redundancy occurs when your role is no longer needed, and no suitable alternative position is available within the organisation. This could happen due to business sales, transfers, or operational changes like improved technology, loss of markets, or financial reasons. Understanding these processes is crucial, and Employee First NZ offers tailored insights to help you stay informed during these transitions.

What Are Your Rights During Restructuring?

As an employee in New Zealand, you have specific rights during workplace changes to ensure fairness and transparency:

• Genuine Business Reasons: Your employer must have valid reasons for restructuring, such as improving efficiency or responding to market changes, and they should share these reasons with you.

• Consultation: You’re entitled to be informed about proposed changes, given reasonable time to provide feedback, and have your input considered before final decisions are made.

• Fair Selection Process: If roles are reduced or new ones created, the selection process for who stays or moves must be fair, transparent, and based on objective criteria.

• Redeployment Options: Employers must explore redeployment to similar or suitable roles within the organisation to avoid redundancy.

• Privacy Protections: Your personal information must be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 2000 and Employment Relations Act 2000.

• Support During Change: Employers should offer support, such as access to Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP), career advice, or training for new roles.

• Special Protections for Specified Employees: If you work in sectors like cleaning, food catering, laundry, orderly, or caretaking services, you may have additional rights to transfer to a new employer on existing terms during business sales or contract changes.

If your employer goes into liquidation or bankruptcy, you may be eligible for preferential claims for unpaid wages, holiday pay, or redundancy compensation, up to a legal maximum. Employee First NZ can guide you through these rights with instant preliminary advice, ensuring you’re equipped to act confidently.

How Employee First NZ Can Assist You

At Employee First NZ, we’re here to empower you during workplace restructuring and redundancies. Our innovative platform, available 24/7, provides immediate, tailored guidance to help you understand your situation and take the next steps. Here’s how we can support you:

• Instant Clarity on Your Rights: Our platform answers your questions about restructuring processes, redundancy entitlements, and your legal protections, anytime, anywhere.

• Personalised Guidance: Get preliminary advice specific to your circumstances, helping you prepare for consultations, provide constructive feedback, or navigate selection processes.

• Support for Next Steps: Our expert advocates can assist with complex issues, such as challenging unfair processes, negotiating redeployment, or pursuing personal grievance claims.

• Stress-Free Advocacy: Workplace change can be overwhelming. We provide advice and guidance to simplify the process, giving you clear, actionable insights to reduce stress and uncertainty.

• Lead the Way to Solutions: While our AI provides initial advice, our team of employment advocates is ready to step in for hands-on support, ensuring you get the best outcome possible.

Don’t navigate workplace changes alone. Employee First NZ combines cutting-edge AI technology with expert advocacy to protect your interests and help you thrive. Contact us today to start your journey with confidence.