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Employment Law

Everyone should feel valued and respected at work.

It’s part of your entitlement as an employee to fair treatment in a safe and healthy workplace.

If you’re unsure about your rights, feel you’re being victimised or have been unfairly dismissed, we can help.

Employment Agreements

Before starting any job, you should receive an Employment Agreement and have a reasonable opportunity to review it before signing. Be very wary of any employers who claim you don’t need an agreement, or ask you to start work before providing you with the paperwork.

You need to understand the terms and conditions of your employment agreement, especially around trial periods, leave and pay.

Our employment law team can help you make sense of complicated or confusing clauses, so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to before starting a new job.

Personal Grievances and Complaints

Do you feel like your employer, manager or colleague has taken an unjustifiable action against you? While it may be difficult in the heat of the moment, it’s best to seek advice before raising a personal grievance.

If you feel you have experienced repeated bullying, sexual harassment, or been discriminated against based on your race, age, gender, religion or sexual orientation, you may have grounds for a personal grievance.

We can advise you on the process and possible outcomes, as well as negotiate on your behalf with your employer’s lawyer.

Redundancy and Restructuring

Under New Zealand law, you are entitled to be consulted and have real input before any restructuring decisions are made in your Christchurch workplace. To make sure you’re fully informed, we can represent you at each stage of the process.

If your relationship with your employer is tense, they’re creating a role that looks very similar to yours, or you feel like your redundancy is motivated by personal reasons, we can help you challenge the restructuring proposal.

Alternatively, we can represent you in any exit negotiations, helping you receive a fair payout.

Real people. Real solutions.

Contact Godfreys Law

If you feel like there are problems growing in a workplace relationship, it’s important to seek advice at an early stage. You may want to record a timeline of events, write down any encounters as they happen to you, or ask colleagues to describe what they saw. It’s also a good idea to keep copies of your job description, payslips, employment agreement and any communications you receive from your employer.

Get real employment solutions from real people. For consultation on any employment law issues, contact Godfreys Law on 03 366 7469.