Freedom HR Ltd

28/12/2025

Hi NZ employers, just letting you know I am currently available for any HR support, advice, or employment investigations work over the Christmas holidays if your business needs it, including on weekends! That goes for the remainder of 2026 too.

I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays and the time to rest and reflect on 2025 and look forward to what 2026 has in store!

19/12/2025

As the year draws to a close I reflect on my work this year - mostly Employment Investigations, one particularly highly complex and involved one that took up most of the year (nationwide NZ organisation) and several smaller (mainly Canterbury, NZ) ones alongside it, a little West Coast (NZ South Island, where i solely operated from 2017-2023) work here and there but more general HR Support such as employment agreements, disciplinary, high absences, restructuring, and leadership/communication coaching.

I have learnt a lot especially about the importance of psychological safety in the workplace and the various personalities that can manipulate and convince others they are not breaching their employment agreements or company policies.. some of them who refuse to take accountability for anything they did wrong or show genuine remorse and who continue battling their employer even though I had Ministry of Justice tell one of these people who was trying to complain about my investigation report that it was fine and that in fact they had breached the Privacy Act in sending it to them (karma is my religion and this was satisfying!) it’s hard but satisfying exposing what I call “dark personality types” according to what I called “the black book” I’ll post a link to in the comments - narcissism, Machiavelli (the most manipulative), and psychopathy.. I wonder if we all have tendencies at times in our shadow selves, but that some of us have something quite different at our core - we genuinely want to treat others as they want to be treated and show respect at all times to others whilst remaining firm on asserting our own boundaries and taking care of our own needs but not at the expense of others (think win-win) or putting an employer at risk then blaming someone else rather than taking accountability and responsibility for our actions..

Anyway, it has been a rewarding year but I did have some personal health issues crop up briefly near the end but these are over now and I’m back on track, oh and I’ve moved to Melbourne Australia as I have a lot of family here and going to do my music career outside of NZ now again like when I lived in London 2010-2012. I’m still doing NZ HR and Employment Investigations work remotely from here too, just like most of my work this year was remote from where I lived in Nelson, NZ, for employer clients elsewhere in NZ. I’m happy to announce I’ve just wrapped up 2 in the last few weeks (including one last night I only started this month).

Thanks to all who gave me work (you know who you are, including Mike Johnson at Essential HR Canterbury) and all the positive feedback from clients who were able to take action after what my independent employment investigations revealed.

I’m happy to announce I was paid for the outstanding invoice I complained about in a previous post but it teaches me who I will and won’t accept work from as clients - not recommended if it’s going to expose a client’s long-term neglect to address or resolve multiple bullying allegations that they are actually behind and pretending they aren’t the whole time and managing to successfully convinced those around them that they are “good people”.. what a nightmare!

Anyway I do believe in the power of people to change once they are fully exposed and to be given a second chance but I also am always wary if there is a pattern of behaviour that negatively affects others and the person doesnt seem to care let alone own up to doing anyrhing wrong whether it will ever change..

Here’s to an even better 2026 than 2025 whatever it holds in store for us all, may all my clients prosper as businesses after doing the right thing by their people and tackling toxicity in the workplace and preventing successful Personal Grievances, as I have always worked to do.

And interesting about all the NZ employment law changes this year and coming up next year!

I’m also looking into employment investigation requirements if I was to do it in Victoria, Australia, and I’m excited to see a recent local law change and new focus on psychosocial hazards and minimising/eliminating these in the workplace under Occupational Health and Safety legislation here.

Cheers, wishing you all a safe happy fun Christmas holiday period and a 2026 where all your dreams come true and more!

From
Layla (and my dog Luna!) currently house sitting a mansion in Melbourne!

24/08/2025

I am in the final stages of completing an employment investigation I started with a large nationwide organisation in March/April this year, it’s gigantic and very complex.

I sent one of my clients a summary of what has been happening this year for me. It is hard work but rewarding exposing those who are creating and maintaining psychologically unsafe workplaces and have gotten away with it for a number of years. It’s devastating seeing the widespread effect this has on the victims and the toll it takes on them and their support networks, including bringing employers close to having to close the business and declare bankruptcy, with ex-employees still refusing to admit or take accountability for their behaviour or the effects of this.

The costs of not dealing with serious allegations of bullying and/or harassment are greater than the costs on the organisation, the people in it, and customers and even members of the public who may be subject to bullying etc. It’s so rewarding that I can do something to help the victims who have suffered for so long. Neglecting to deal with these claims can cost NZ employers up to $2 million as you can read about in this article: https://www.al.nz/providing-a-mentally-safe-workplace-in-2024/

29/01/2025

I now have my private investigator licence from the Ministry of Justice so I can continue to help my clients resolve potential misconduct or other workplace issues! This includes complaints received about staff and/or managers which may or may not mention the word “bully”.

Case law in recent years has dictated the requirement to have this qualification in order to carry out work as an external independent employment investigator with the least risk to a business.

Bullying can’t be dealt with until those who are offended by another person’s toxic patterns of behaviour in the workplace are brave enough to come forward and stand up for themselves. This means allowing their employer putting the facts to the person being complained about for their response before deciding next steps. Their employer will do everything possible to ensure the person complaining feels safe throughout the process. In asking their employer to address and resolve the issues, the person raising the issue is minimising the risk to psychological safety for them, their colleagues, management, and customers.

If not dealt with, workplace toxicity can spread out into each of these people’s networks and interactions they have with others, even the general public! Emotional Contagion is real and so is the immense impact on physical and mental health I have witnessed so many times over the years when toxic behaviours are not dealt with. Not to mention, business performance suffers too..

Here is some info on the govt website on employment investigations:
https://www.employment.govt.nz/resolving-problems/how-to-resolve-problems/disciplinary-process/investigations

The screenshots attached show from this page when you would need someone with this licence, but I can advise, support and coach resolution at any stage of any employment issue - minimising risk to a business, increasing motivation and positive emotional contagion of staff and customers, and guaranteeing improved business performance as a result. For example, if a more informal approach is needed, I have many tools including my own conflict resolution methodology.

ABOUT ME:
13+ years as an HR Practitioner in medium to large organisations throughout NZ and London, plus 7+ years now as an independent consultant for small to medium NZ businesses as Freedom HR Ltd. I can help employees resolve any employment issue with whatever is needed in terms of legal process and consequences, including one-to-one leadership coaching, writing up formal legal documents and communication requirements for an employment procedure. Last year I worked for Nelson hospital as Senior HR Advisor on a fixed term assignment after moving in Feb 2024 from being fully self-employed on the West Coast (mostly from Freedom HR work) since Sep 2017. Alongside the role with Health NZ Te Whatu Ora in 2024, I continued to help Freedom HR clients located in Christchurch, West Coast, Nelson and Auckland. I completed 2 Bachelors degrees in 4 years majoring in Psychology and Management (Arts and Commerce) in 2004, and during my HR career I have had a special interest in Employment Relations and Organisational Development. I also have multiple additional coaching qualifications including NLP hypnotherapy. More on my career history etc can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/layla-dowthwaite-5888773b

Please share this post to any NZ employers who might need support with their HR obligations, including reviewing employment agreements or restructuring towards redundancies etc. They can contact me on 0212425800 or [email protected]

Thank you
- Layla

20/10/2024

Hooray I got FHR on google and asked some of my clients to leave reviews! Along with the testimonials on my website and page I’m so grateful I have had the oppprtunity to help leaders be better at managing and motivating their staff, and themselves!

11/09/2024

To my previous clients over the years - thank you for having me help your business! Please leave me a quick google review to say how I did that and the results? I've just set up the ability to do it at this link, and it will help me establish Freedom HR in the Nelson Tasman region. Thanks in advance!

4.0 ★ · Human resource consulting

09/09/2024

After establishing Freedom HR as the sole West Coast HR Consultancy from 2017 until the end of 2023, and being fully self-employed over this period, I moved to Nelson early this year for a fixed-term part-time HR Role at Health NZ which is coming to an end shortly.

During this time I have still been carrying out Freedom HR work supporting employers and their staff to resolve issues, including Leadership Coaching, advising on legally-compliant formal procedures such as disciplinary/excessive absences/poor performance, updating employment agreements, and attending formal meetings remotely, including for long-term clients throughout the West Coast and some newer ones in Canterbury. The Leadership Coaching was with Chiefs of Fire Brigades around the South Island, which I have been doing for Fire Emergency NZ since 2018.

I'm about to get my Private Investigator Licence so I can carry out investigations especially into workplace Bullying and Harassment which is an area I am passionate about making a difference. I have developed an informal Conflict Resolution process I love using too.

I'm wanting to grow the general coaching side of my business as well. Workplace or Career coaching, Leadership, Communication, or any other personal or business goals.

Excited to meet new clients in Nelson-Tasman region I can help resolve workplace issues. Please forward this post to any small to medium business owners in the region or elsewhere in NZ who may want support with workplace problems, legal compliance, coaching and/or leadership development. Thanks in advance!

Call now to connect with business.

23/12/2023

I‘m advertising on free schoolbooks that go to children throughout the West Coast region!

Have had some wonderful successes this year with my clients including employers and employees in West Coast and Canterbury - with my help we have managed to remedy some toxic workplace culture issues and things have improved for the business and team since.. It takes courage for other employees to be willing to have a complaint presented to the person whose behaviour has offended them, but this is crucial in asking for their response and doing whatever is needed to make the behaviour stop.

Also - I am applying to become a licenced investigator for formal bullying and harassment cases in 2024!!

I love making a positive difference to workplace culture - it affects everyone in the team including people each team member interacts with inside and outside of work, it means less mistakes, more satisfied customers, and less stress, which means lower sick leave. So a boost in the productivity and overall performance of the business - lowering costs and increasing profit👌🏼

Remember it’s always best to tackle issues early rather than letting them fester and hoping they will go away of their own accord, it also prevents the best staff from leaving and increases everyone’s happiness at work - a key aspect of staff motivation in the workplace.

Huge thank you to Anna McKay Artist for her voluntary work on my advert, so excited to help spread this message 👏🏼

09/10/2023

Some excellent training coming up, partially (or in some cases fully) funded by Upskill West Coast and provided by Michael from the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce - The Chamber. I had feedback from a long-term West Coast client recently that I trained them so well through working with them for a few years and they would search back through my emails to get the answers to questions as they came up, which is so rewarding! Leading and managing staff can be such a hard part of a manager’s role to grasp and carries a lot of risk if not done in a legally-compliant way. First 15 minutes of advice for any employment situation is free with Freedom HR Ltd if you tell me you saw it in this post 🙂

Are you new to a Human Resources role or are you responsible for some HR functions in your business?
3 spaces have become available for this excellent HR and Employment Law course, being held in Greymouth in October.

Upskill may be able to fully fund this training. Get in touch with Tania to find out more. DM us or email: [email protected] or call 02784687681.