Public consultation comes amid concerns over timeframes, behaviour of employment advocates
The New Zealand government is asking the public to share their experiences on the employment dispute resolution process amid reported concerns over timeframes and employment advocates.
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said the government is asking for feedback on the employment dispute resolution process to inform improvements to operations, legislation, and the system.
"I am seeking public feedback on employment dispute resolution to understand the root causes of disputes, the barriers within our system, and potential solutions," she said in a statement.
"This feedback will potentially inform improvements to operations, legislation, and the broader system."
Feedback is requested from business owners, workers, representative groups, any individual who has been involved as a party to an employment dispute, or who has supported or represented someone in a dispute.
The focus of the feedback is on understanding their full dispute journey, starting from issues handled in the workplace through to mediation, the Employment Relations Authority, and the Employment Court.
Submissions can be filed on the website of the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment between May 5 and July 31.
Concerns over dispute resolution process
The public consultation comes in the wake of various concerns about New Zealand's employment dispute resolution process, according to van Velden.
"I have heard concerns about how long employment disputes can take to work through and the costs involved in navigating the process," she said.
"Lengthy, costly disputes can affect workplace morale and create uncertainty for both employers and employees. When disputes drag on or escalate unnecessarily, they can make it harder for people to move between jobs and for businesses to grow."
Another frequent concern that has been raised with van Velden is the "behaviour" of employment advocates.
Employment advocates are non-lawyers who offer advice, support, and representation for employees and employers in the mediation processes and the Employment Court.
They have expertise in employment law, but are not qualified to provide legal representation for clients in courts outside of the Employment Court, according to My Advocate, an employment advocacy service in New Zealand.
Van Velden noted that she's heard about "unprofessional" behaviour from some employment advocates.
"I've heard examples of advocates displaying abusive and unprofessional behaviour and encouraging clients to pursue unfounded cases or seek disproportionate settlements," she said.
The minister underscored that having effective ways to resolve employment disputes is important as they can be costly for the involved parties in terms of financial cost, time, and relationships.
"Disputes are inevitable, but how we deal with them matters, and this is an opportunity to listen to people's experiences and make improvements from them," she said.
