OnPoint Consulting NZ

17/06/2026

Ten and a half years of loyalty. Then a phone call during parental leave: “There’s nothing for you to come back to.”

In all that time, her role had changed, her hours had changed, her title had changed — and none of it was ever put in writing. The employer relied on one old “umbrella agreement” from years ago.

When the personal grievance came, everything hinged on the paper trail. Her pay slips and actual hours became her legal terms, and the employer was liable for all of it. Going back years.
All of it avoidable with a bit of paperwork and a proper conversation.

Your employment agreement is the first document everyone reaches for when something goes wrong. This article covers what NZ law says yours must include, what happens if someone starts before signing, and how to make changes the right way.

If yours have been sitting in a drawer for a while, this article is for you.

She’d been with the company for over a decade. In that time, her role had changed, her position title had changed, her hours had changed, and her days had changed. Not once. Multiple times across a decade.

15/06/2026

One word. That’s all it took to cost a New Zealand employer a serious settlement.

The funding for a fixed-term role got pulled early. There was a proper process for ending it — but instead, the employer sent a letter saying the role was being “disestablished.” In employment law, that word means something very specific. And it wasn’t what they meant.

A personal grievance followed, and the employer couldn’t defend the process. Settlement, written reference, certificate of service. All avoidable.

If you’ve ever wondered what you’d actually do if a personal grievance landed on your desk, this article walks you through it step by step — what to check first, how long you have to respond, your options, and the mistakes that make things worse.

Worth a read before you ever need it:

She’d been with the organisation for months, doing good work on a funded project with a clear end date. Her contract ran through to the end of the financial year in June. It was straightforward. Everyone knew where they stood. Then the funding got pulled early.

14/05/2026

When did you last review your employment agreements?

If the answer is “I’m not sure,” that’s your answer.

At minimum, once a year. More often if roles, hours, or conditions are changing. Undocumented changes become implied terms, and implied terms become liability.

12/05/2026

What protects you when a personal grievance is raised?

Documentation. Genuine consultation. Following the process set out in your employment agreements.

That’s the full list. Employers who get through these situations without major damage are the ones who wrote things down, had the right conversations, and can prove it.

10/05/2026

Employee starts Monday. Agreement isn’t signed yet?

You’re in breach. Your trial period clause is invalid. Every protection that agreement would have given you is gone.

Sign before day one. Every time.

07/05/2026

By law, every NZ employment agreement must include the names of both parties, the work to be performed, place of work, agreed hours, and pay rate.

Beyond that, you need a variation clause, wage deduction terms, and a dispute resolution process. Trial periods need specific wording and must be signed before day one.

Gaps here are where disputes get traction.

05/05/2026

Myth: once a personal grievance is raised, you have to settle.

Fact: if you’ve followed proper process and acted in good faith, you have a defensible position.

NZ employment law is balanced. The reason outcomes lean toward employees is usually that employers cut corners, not because the law is stacked against them.

Getting the right advice tells you when to hold your ground.

03/05/2026

When employment relations issues get complicated, process is what protects you.

Personal grievances, disciplinary matters, investigations, restructures. We help NZ businesses handle them properly.

Reach out to find out how we can help.

30/04/2026

A handshake agreement is legally binding in New Zealand.

If someone has been doing work for you, an employment relationship exists. If what they’ve been doing doesn’t match what’s in their agreement, the reality on the ground wins.

Document every change. Every single one.

28/04/2026

A personal grievance settlement for a senior role reached $180,000.

That’s not an outlier. That’s what happens when process is skipped and the matter drags on.

Representation costs, remedies for stress and loss of dignity, and the time involved all stack up fast. Getting expert advice early is the cheapest decision you’ll make.