Firms in New Zealand are paying a higher price for employees on medical leave, with the highest increase in absenteeism rates recorded since 2012.
Nearly 900 organisations, each with over 250 employees, are set to disclose their gender pay gaps under new regulations.
Both unemployment and employment rose in the June quarter as the proportion of people quantified as being available for work increased to 72.4%.
Through initiatives such as Women’s Employment Action Plan, progress continues to be made in women’s education and workforce participation.
Successful trials in Australia and New Zealand have demonstrated benefits to health, lifestyle, and work behaviour, said a RMIT professor.
The government has pledged to replace existing regulation with a wage supplement scheme so disabled employees are paid at minimum wage.
Over 223,000 employees in New Zealand will benefit from the increase in the minimum wage to NZ$22.70 (US$14.20), including those earning lower income.
Besides monetary rewards, organisations are also offering more work flexibility in a bid to attract and retain the best talent.
Aspirations for flexible work arrangements and a better quality of life are motivators for New Zealanders to choose to work from home.
Employees in New Zealand are rallying for increased health and safety protection in small businesses through a new bill.
Through a union, over 500 New Zealand Uber drivers are pushing for better pay and working conditions through collective bargaining.
With the interchangeable holiday policy, employees at Unilever are free to exchange a public holiday for another day that is more significant to them.
As the country embarks on its economic recovery, the Flexi-Wage programme has helped address skills gaps and meet workforce shortages.
Compared to their younger counterparts, employees aged 50 and above are more likely to put in extra effort at work beyond regular hours.
For the next 12 months, employees will have the flexibility to choose which day or set of hours is most suitable for them to take off.
About 83.2% of New Zealand employees say the ability to work from anywhere has made them happier and more productive.
Under the Fair Pay Bill, workers will gain a right to a minimum level of training and development from their employers.
To ensure women in the workforce are paid fairly, the government has also been urged to make pay gap reporting mandatory.
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is suggesting a comprehensive pilot of a four-day working week as part of a strategy to develop the economy.
Workplace practices and working preferences have shifted, and employees are now looking for jobs that better fit their lives.
From September 1, the living wage in the country has increased by 90 cents to NZ$23.65 (US$14.5) an hour, although its implementation is not mandatory.
A Gartner survey revealed that, over the last 12 months, almost 50% of jobseekers did not apply to roles without wages disclosed.
More workers are experiencing increased workplace pressures which are impacting their physical, psychological, and emotional wellbeing.
There were also more full-time workers and fewer part-time workers, with the latter stemming from a decrease of women workers in part-time jobs.
Companies are encouraged to gather opinions from their employees and use the information as a basis for the programme.
Launched in 2018, the programme is designed to provide skills training and employment opportunities for workers in the country.
The 2015 Health and Safety at Work Act in New Zealand requires workplaces to look after the physical and mental health and wellbeing of staff.
Toy company Zuru plans to sue former employees who anonymously wrote scathing online reviews of the company.
Businesses are finding a significant mismatch between the skills required in the job and that of candidates, a survey has revealed.
From July 1, new parents will get additional paid parental leave entitlements that will result in up to NZ$40 (US$25) extra a week.
