Showing Posts In "New Zealand" Category

Pre-Employment Drug Test NZ: About Workplace Drug Testing in New Zealand

As companies and businesses aim to make their work environment safer for employees and customers, a pre-employment drug test in NZ workplaces is one of the preventive measures they turn to. The use and abuse of illicit drugs can lead to increased work-related accidents due to employee impairments. In line with this, alcohol intoxication from […]

NEW PRIVACY ACT FOR NEW ZEALAND IN FORCE FROM 1 DECEMBER 2020 EXTENDS TO OFFSHORE ENTITIES DOING BUSINESS IN NZ

New Zealand’s Privacy Act 2020 recently went into force with key changes such as an extension of the powers and functions of the Privacy Commissioner, the strengthening of cross-border protections, the introduction of criminal penalties for certain behavior, and an increased focus on risk management and early intervention by “agencies.” How will the Commissioner’s powers […]

PERSONAL DATA HANDLING AND PROCESSING IN NEW ZEALAND

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MANPOWER GROUP SURVEY SHOWS NEW ZEALAND EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK.

The latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey for New Zealand shows employers reporting conservative hiring plans for the second quarter of 2019. With 14 percent of employers expecting to increase payrolls, five percent anticipating a decrease and 80 percent forecasting no change, the resulting Net Employment Outlook is +9 percent. Employers in all four organization size […]

HOW CAN HR PROTECT AGAINST EMPLOYEE FRAUD?

Robyn Conza, Country head – Australia and New Zealand at First Advantage, discusses pre-employment screening and the importance of rescreening to prevent ongoing employee fraud and mitigate risk. He notes that fraud in actual dollar terms is costing the Australian economy approximately half a billion a year. The non-financial impact manifests itself in organizational culture […]

BACKGROUND CHECKS LAGGING IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand criminals are entering Australia without background checks, causing concern for Australian authorities. Under a Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, Australian visitors complete an  incoming passenger card to declare whether they have convictions, but some are lying on the form, and background checks are not being done.  There is no system in place that allows Australian […]

Drugs On The Job

Worried bosses are resorting to more workplace drug-testing and uncovering hundreds of drug-using Waikato workers – including a concerning amount testing positive for methamphetamine (also known as P).

Workplace drug testing in the Waikato more than tripled last year over 2009, according to statistics supplied by […]

Jade’s Killing Spurs Rethink

Justice Minister Judith Collins’ plans to change trans-Tasman information sharing could mean a public register of serious criminals deported from Australia. The murder of Christchurch teenager Jade Bayliss has really focused everyone’s minds on ensuring the new law becomes a reality. The change would allow Australian authorities to hand over border-control information to New Zealand […]

Employment Court Finds Random Drug Tests by ‘Stealth’

The cases of Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ) Limited v Hooper and Patchett v Contour Roofing (awarding $4,000 and $15,000 compensation to employees, respectively) are timely reminders to employers of the importance of having a well-drafted alcohol and drug policy, and of adhering to procedural standards when carrying out testing. Recent figures from the New Zealand Drug […]

Welfare Drug Tests May Break Privacy Law

New Zealand Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff says proposed welfare rules that require beneficiaries to take drug tests are potentially illegal. According to Shroff, a provision contained in the Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill that would require job candidates to take drug tests upon employers’ requests could violate employees’ privacy. Those who […]