Employment Information

Newsletters..
Salary and Wages Information..
Information from Immigration New Zealand - August 2005..

Latest Newsletters available - "How's Work?" for employees, (August 2006) and "Working in Wine" for employers. (October 2006)

When we think there's something that New Zealand wine industry employers (and employees) should know relating to employment laws or changes, we'll post it here after we have sent it to our subscriber list. If you're not already a subscriber receiving this free information directly, you may become one by signing up here.

Our Employer Information newsletter, "Working in Wine", is available now for downloading in pdf format.

Working in Wine, October 2006, reminds wine employers about the 4 weeks holiday to which every employee will become entitled after 1 April 2007. And we ask if you know - "Can you just Fire someone?"


The topic of June 2006's Working in Wine is, "Are you a good employer?" We list 11 things for you to consider. Maybe you're not as good as you think.
And we encourage all winery and grapegrower employers to participate in the Annual Wine Industry Salary Survey currently being conducted by Strategic Pay in association with NZ Winegrowers.


April 2006's "Working in Wine" tells you about Easter Public Holidays, the change to 4 weeks annual leave and an interesting case from the Employment Court.


In December 2005 we outline changes to the Parental Leave Act and define the different kinds of employment agreements.


If meetings take up your time the November 2005 edition gives some tips to make them more productive, and tells you how to pay people for Christmas/New Year public holidays.


May 2005 edition of "Working in Wine" is about Performance Reviews, and a few easy tips on how and why you should undertake them for your staff.


March 2005 "Working in Wine" checks whether you're totally clear about the different employee categories so that everyone at your place is employed on the correct employment agreement. Can you have a trial period? What about employing someone for harvest "and if they're any good offering them a job?"

We also mention the new Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 and the latest amendments to the Employment Relations Act.


December 2004 edition contains information about the new smokefree workplace laws, payments for Christmas New Year 2004/5 public holidays and changes to the Parental Leave Act.


November 2004 edition contains information about amendments to the Holidays Act 2003 and entitlements to public holiday payments for all employees.

We also tell you a few things about the Employment Relations Act - including which one piece of documentation you need to have, to save your company from a potential fine of up to $10,000.



"How's Work?" is for Employees -

In August 2006 we give some tips for Performance Reviews as well as outline what to do about that pay increase you're after, and information about the new four weeks holiday to be introduced from 1 April 2007.

"How's Work?" in April 2006 is about payments - for public holidays, holiday pay and minimum wage rates.

December 2005's "How's Work?" outlines changes to the Parental Leave Act and once again tell you about the right kinds of employment agreements.


In the October 2005 issue we suggest you take a look at where you waste your time and what it costs your company when you do.

The July 2005 edition of "How's Work?" helps with some ways you can prepare for an annual Performance Review.


In March 2005 we outline 10 steps you can take to reduce workplace overload.

Please remember that the information provided in these newsletters relates to New Zealand.

Salary and Wages Information

Remuneration rates vary considerably throughout New Zealand wine industry positions and take into account a number of factors. We are therefore unable to advise on what you should pay your employees, or what your wage rate should be.

Strategic Pay Ltd, in association with New Zealand Winegrowers, currently conducts an annual remuneration survey focusing on pay levels for positions particular to the wine industry.  

Positions include Winemaker, Vineyard positions, Cellarhands, Viticulturist, Cellar door and Laboratory staff.  Information is also produced forecasting remuneration levels and changes in staff recruitment. 

Participation in this survey is open to all wineries in New Zealand and the results are available to purchase, with participants entitled to a discount.  

To obtain more information regarding this survey, please contact Catherine at Strategic Pay on 09 303 4057 or email her. More generic roles such as sales, admin, marketing etc., are covered by other surveys and not featured in the Wine one.

Information from Immigration New Zealand - August 2005

The Immigration Department has advised changes to Working Holiday Schemes increasing the numbers of working holiday makers able to come into New Zealand and removing the work restrictions from some schemes.

Full details are published here.