Employment Relations Act 2000

Personal grievances, disputes, and enforcement - Object

101: Object of this Part

You could also call this:

“This part aims to make solving job problems easier by focusing on talking and sharing information, not following strict rules.”

This part of the law is about solving problems in work relationships. It says that when you have a problem at work, it’s more important to get information and help to solve it than to follow strict rules.

The law wants you to try to fix problems by talking about them with the other person first. This is because problems are often solved faster and better when you talk directly to each other.

The law also says it’s important to pay special attention to personal grievances. These are serious complaints you might have about your job. The law wants to make it easier for you to tell your employer about these problems.

When problems can’t be solved by talking, there are two groups that can help: the Authority and the court. Their job is to look at the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved. They don’t decide on things like your pay or working hours.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM60318.

Topics:
Work and jobs > Worker rights
Rights and equality > Anti-discrimination

Previous

100G: Amendments to or replacement of code of good faith for employment relationships in relation to provision of services by New Zealand Police, or

“The Governor-General can change the rules for how the police and their workers should treat each other, but only if the police boss and most of the police workers' groups ask for it.”


Next

102: Employee may pursue personal grievance under this Act, or

“If you think you've been treated unfairly at work, you can tell someone about it using this law.”

Part 9 Personal grievances, disputes, and enforcement
Object

101Object of this Part

  1. The object of this Part is—

  2. to recognise that, in resolving employment relationship problems, access to both information and mediation services is more important than adherence to rigid formal procedures; and
    1. to recognise that employment relationship problems are more likely to be resolved quickly and successfully if the problems are first raised and discussed directly between the parties to the relationship; and
      1. to continue to give special attention to personal grievances, and to facilitate the raising of personal grievances with employers; and
          1. to ensure that the role of the Authority and the court in resolving employment relationship problems is to determine the rights and obligations of the parties rather than to fix terms and conditions of employment.
            Notes
            • Section 101(ab): inserted, on , by section 37 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 86).
            • Section 101(c): repealed, on , by section 14 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 125).