As an employer, it is essential to understand the different types of leave and your employees’ entitlements, including sick leave and bereavement leave.
Sick leave
Your team members are entitled to 10 days of sick leave per year if they
– have been continuously employed by you for six months, or
– over a six-month period, have worked at least an average of 10 hours a week with no less than one hour worked in every week or no less than 40 hours worked every month.
If an employee gets sick before starting their holiday, businesses must allow affected days to be taken as sick leave. If they get sick while on holiday, employers can decide whether to grant sick days.
The government has announced plans to move to a pro-rata system for sick leave in planned changes to the Holidays Act 2003. Read more [here] (https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/employment-and-skills/employment-legislation-reviews/holidays-act-reform).
Bereavement leave
Employees are entitled to three days of bereavement leave every 12 months, if they have worked for you continuously for six months and meet the same hourly criteria as for sick leave.
Bereavement leave covers the death of an immediate family member or if an employee or their partner has a miscarriage or stillbirth. One day’s bereavement leave is permitted if the employer accepts that the employee has a close association with the deceased or particular responsibilities for matters associated with the death.
Contact us for more information on your employment responsibilities.
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