Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Employment Relations Act 2000

Personal grievances, disputes, and enforcement - Personal grievances

120: Statement of reasons for dismissal

You could also call this:

“You can ask your boss to explain why you were fired, and they must tell you in writing.”

If you’re fired from your job, you can ask your employer to tell you why in writing. You have 60 days to make this request, starting from when you were fired or when you found out about it, whichever is later. This means if you didn’t know right away that you were fired, you still have time to ask.

When you ask for this information, your employer must give you a written statement explaining why you were fired. They have to do this within 14 days of getting your request. This helps you understand the reasons for losing your job.

Remember, you have the right to ask for this information, and your employer must provide it when you ask. This can be helpful if you want to understand what happened or if you think you were treated unfairly.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM60360.

Topics:
Work and jobs > Worker rights
Rights and equality > Anti-discrimination
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119: Presumption in discrimination cases, or

“If a worker shows their boss did something unfair because of their union activities, the boss has to prove they didn't do it on purpose.”

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121: Statements privileged, or

“Anything said when trying to fix a workplace problem can't be used against you in court.”

Part 9 Personal grievances, disputes, and enforcement
Personal grievances

120Statement of reasons for dismissal

  1. Where an employee is dismissed, that employee may, within 60 days after the dismissal or within 60 days after the employee has become aware of the dismissal, whichever is the later, request the employer to provide a statement in writing of the reasons for the dismissal.

  2. Every employer to whom a request is made under subsection (1) must, within 14 days after the day on which the request is received, provide the statement to the person who made the request.

Compare
  • 1991 No 22 s 38