Employment Law Concerns in 2024
Uncover key employment concerns for 2024, so you are across all the issues you need to be for your practice. You’ll receive practical guidance on the crucial issues concerning independent contractor vs employee, best practice in dealing with workplace mental health & wellbeing in the workplace. Plus, understand the significance of Tikanga on employers. Finally, know the developments in the relation to workplace investigations. WEB243NZA28Z
Register your interest now!
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD hours
Chair: Javana Schiphorst, Staff Barrister, Catherine Stewart Barrister, Hobson Street, Auckland Central
2.00pm to 2.45pm What’s in a Name? The Continuing Questions of Employee Status in New Zealand
- What does it mean to be an employee? And why does it matter?
- Gloriavale (take two)
- The Uber litigation
- Hungry Panda
- Where to from here?
Presented by Alison Maelzer, Partner, Hesketh Henry
2.45pm to 3.30pm Managing Mental Health and Wellbeing Challenges in the Workplace
- An employer's legislative and contractual obligations
- Psychosocial risks in the workplace
- Managing mental health and wellbeing during performance and disciplinary processes
- Potential changes on the horizon?
Presented by Ashley-Jayne Lodge, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
3.30pm to 3.45pm Afternoon Tea
3.45pm to 4.30pm Tikanga & Its New Significance for Employers
- The GF v Customs Service case and its implications
- How Tikanga and other policy commitments might bind employers
- Good faith, public sector ‘good employers’ and the private sector
- Practical measures to address this developing area of law
Presented by James Warren, Partner, Dentons
4.30pm to 5.15pm Developments in the Law Relating to Employment Investigations, and some Common Pitfalls
Workplace Investigations have become a regular part of the New Zealand employment landscape. This session will examine:
- When to investigate in-house - and when to outsource
- The relevant law, particularly including the need to abide by natural justice (and what does that mean?)
- Some tips and tricks to ensure a sound process
Presented by Andrew Scott-Howman, Barrister, Port Nicholson Chambers
Learning Objectives:
- Receive a timely update on the latest developments in employment law
- Benefit from an essential practice update on the independent contractor vs employee conundrum
- Understand Tikanga and its new significance on employers
- Receive a practical guidance on the developments of the law relating to workplace investigations, as well as valuable tips and insights on common pitfalls
Presenters
Javana Schiphorst
Javana Schiphorst joined Catherine's team as a staff barrister in 2021, and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Auckland University of Technology. Javana advises and represents clients on all employment matters. Javana's particular areas of interest are: restructuring and redundancies, bullying and harassment in the workplace, health and safety, constructive dismissal, negotiating exit packages, and developing tailored employment agreements, disciplinary procedures, and company policies for employers. Prior to joining Catherine's team, Javana held roles as a junior barrister specialising in civil litigation in the High Court, an in-house lawyer and a general practice solicitor. Prior to her legal career, Javana had experience in owning and operating businesses, e-commerce and managing companies. Bringing together her varied experience, Javana appreciates employment issues from both perspectives: employer and employee. Javana regularly represents clients at mediations and in the Employment Relations Authority.
Alison Maelzer
Alison has practised exclusively in the employment jurisdiction for approximately 20 years. Her background includes large firm and in-house local government experience, and she represents clients at mediation, in the Employment Relations Authority, and Employment Court. Her expertise in the employment law sector has been recognised by the major legal directories, including AsiaLaw, and Chambers Asia-Pacific. Alison’s experience covers the breadth of employment law issues, representing employers, employees, and unions in matters ranging from statutory compliance to negotiated solutions to employment relationship problems. She provides pragmatic, business-focused advice with a view to minimising cost and time for the client. Alison works hard to ensure that advice is practical, solutions-based and delivered in plain English.
Ashley-Jayne Lodge
Ashley-Jayne (AJ) advises clients in all aspects of employment law working with them to provide practical, pragmatic solutions to often complex employment issues. She has represented both employers and employees in the education sector, including from early childhood, primary, and secondary schools. AJ can assist employers, employees, and HR professionals with all manner of employment advice, including day to day management of employees, restructures and redundancies, employee claims, advising on and providing representation in human rights matters, health and safety, and employment agreements and policies. AJ represents clients at mediations, in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and Human Rights jurisdictions, as well as representing and advising sports players and clubs in disciplinary and general matters. AJ is also an experienced investigator, having conducted workplace investigations, reviews, and other independent investigations in both the public and private sector. AJ is a certified Association of Workplace Investigators member and Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) and conducts independent investigations for both employers and other organisations, including schools and tertiary institutions.
James Warren
James is a partner with Dentons' employment and workplace health & safety team, based in Auckland with extensive experience in both the UK and New Zealand. He is regularly instructed on multi-jurisdictional matters and business transformations, while also dealing with investigations, dismissals and personal grievances. James is an approachable and responsive advocate when dealing with disputes, prosecutions and claims, focused on delivering practical and commercial solutions. James has been consistently recommended in The Legal 500 and has been described in various editions as a ’clear thinking adviser’ providing ’great customer service’, along with ’robust and practical advice’.
Andrew Scott-Howman
Andrew Scott-Howman is a Wellington based barrister specialising in workplace investigations. He is a graduate of the Association of Workplace Investigator's Training Instititute, and is a member of that specialist interest organisation. He is also a co-author of the Thomson Reuters text "Workplace Bullying in New Zealand".He acts as investigator in both the public and private sectors, and has wide experience in investigating bullying, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct claims.
Jodi Sharman
Jodi joined the Employment Law team at Hesketh Henry in 2008, and has considerable experience in working with employees, employers and unions on a wide range of employment law matters and litigation issues. Jodi has appeared in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, District Court and High Court, and frequently represents clients in negotiations and mediations. Jodi is a member of the Auckland District Law Society, and its Employment Law Committee, as well as the New Zealand Law Society. Her expertise in the employment law sector has been recognised by the major legal directories, including Chambers Asia-Pacific. Jodi enjoys the people factor in employment law and being involved in the employment law issues facing clients who operate in different industries and professions. She brings a pragmatic approach to legal issues with a focus on client communication and delivering practical and commercial outcomes.