NZ employers urged to check payroll systems

Reports have emerged of widespread underpayment by some government agencies – is your organisation calculating holiday pay correctly?

New Zealand employers are being urged to review their payroll systems to ensure staff are receiving their full entitlements after it was revealed there may have been widespread underpayment by some government agencies for well over a decade.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is at the centre of the contentious issue, which appears to arise from the fact that there is more than one way to calculate holiday pay but employers are legally obligated to pay the higher amount.

"We don't know if there is a problem with this in the private sector and, if so, whether it's minor or widespread," said the chief executive of Business New Zealand, Kirk Hope.

For now, Hope urged employers to check that their own payroll systems are choosing the method that gives the greater amount of holiday pay.

"It may be the case that some organisations have not been choosing the option that gives the greater amount,” he said, adding that “businesses should check their payroll system to ensure they are calculating holiday pay the right way."


More like this:
How HR can get help from front line workers
Collaboration leaving employees cold
Should HR become an invisible role?

Recent articles & video

'Highly questionable': Reserve Bank asked to drop board's gender, ethnic balance goal

Discrepancies in payslips and roster records: Worker claims huge underpayments

Nearly half of targeted New Zealand firms falling for deepfake scams: report

'Significant risks': Employees outpacing employers in adopting AI

Most Read Articles

Employer suspends worker during safety investigation: Worker cries 'unfair' treatment

Health NZ disestablishes chief people officer role: reports

Worker challenges employer's disciplinary process and safety investigation