Employer / Company Services

Workplace Law Specialists is one of Wellington's premier employment and workplace law firms, with a strong reputation of success and efficacy.

We have an extensive, accomplished history of advising and representing employers throughout New Zealand in a variety of intricate and complex workplace related matters.

  • Support for CEOs, HR Managers & Key Executives
  • Compliance & Risk Management advice
  • Employment Agreements
  • Policies
  • Advising on Change Management, Restructures and Redundancy
  • Independent Contracts
  • Advising on Relationship Issues & Reviews
  • Advising on disciplinary processes
  • Adapting to Legislative Changes
  • Independent Investigations
  • Performance Management
  • Workplace Disputes
  • Employment Negotiations and Mediations
  • Legislative Compliance
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Collective Bargaining
  • Advising on managing personal grievances
  • Civil Disputes
  • Developing Health & Safety Frameworks
  • ACC Reviews & Appeals
  • Assistance with Construction Law & the Building Act
  • Post Employment Obligations

Employment Agreements

  • Drafting and review of employment agreements:
    • Generating tailored employment agreements to protect against future issues and conflicts.
    • Providing advice on essential and non-essential terms, trial periods and hours of work.
    • Ensuring employers comply with their legal requirements when employing staff.
    • Providing advice on existing employment agreements.
    • Providing advice on the different types of employment (permanent / fixed term and casual employment).

 

Review and Draft Employment Policies

  • Including health and safety; and
  • Company handbooks

 

Performance Management / Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)

  • Providing guidance, support and assistance in assessing whether performance management is appropriate and commencing and managing the process.

 

Change Management, Restructuring Issues and Business Sales

  • Planning and implementation of restructuring proposals including down-sizing, mergers and acquisitions, contracting out, sale of business.
  • Providing advice on the consultation process.
  • Review of documentation and advice on substance.

 

Redundancy

  • Providing guidance in carrying out disestablishment / redundancy processes and advice on the obligations of employers.

 

Reviews and Disciplinary Processes including warnings and dismissals

  • Providing assistance and representation in commencing and managing disciplinary processes including warnings, dismissals and investigations.
  • Advising on the correct processes for making decisions about warnings and dismissals and provide support throughout the process.

 

Workplace Disputes

  • Advising on low level up front resolution of issues.
  • Advising on healthy workplaces.

 

Employment Relationship Issues including Privacy, Health & Safety

  • Advice on bullying and harassment issues.
  • Advice regarding culture and perception of the workplace.
  • Advice on legislative obligations in relation to employment issues in both the public and private sector.
  • How to manage stress in the workplace.

 

Employment Law Compliance

  • Advice based on employer statutory obligations
  • We provide advice on the following Acts:
    • Employment Relations Act 2000
    • Holidays Act 2003
    • Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987
    • Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
    • Human Rights Act 1993
    • A variety of commercial and civil statutes

 

Independent Investigations

  • We conduct independent investigations relating to workplace related matters as well as provide assistance with reviews of processes and incidents.

 

Mediation, the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court

  • Representation in employment mediations and hearings.

 

Grievances and Dispute Resolution

  • Assistance in resolving employment relationship problems and personal grievances
  • Negotiating terms of settlement
  • Provision of advice to clients engaged in, or defending, employment claims
  • Attending mediations
  • Representation of clients in the Employment Relations Authority or other courts regarding employment matters

 

Provide advice on post-employment issues including Restraints of Trade, Non-Solicitation and Protection of Confidential Information

Unions and Collective Bargaining

  • Assisting and representing employers engaged in collective bargaining
  • Providing advice as to process, bargaining agreements, negotiation strategies and terms and conditions
  • Advising on managing industrial disputes (strikes and lockouts)

 

Independent Contracts

  • Drafting and review of independent contracts:
    • Generating tailored independent contracts to protect against future issues and conflicts.
    • Providing advice on essential and non-essential terms.
    • Providing advise on potential breaches or managing notice of breach.
    • Providing advice on existing contracts.

 

Civil and Commercial Advice and Disputes

  • Providing advice and representation in contractual disputes;
  • Advice and representation in injunctive relief (such as for passing off);
  • Liquidation proceedings;
  • Representation at commercial mediation and court appearances.
We act for and advise Employers:

Contact us

formerly O'Sullivan and Associates
New Zealand Law Society
Resolution Institute