Many New Zealand businesses temporarily close down at some point during the year, commonly over the Christmas-New Year period. With a bit of preparation and know-how, employers can handle the annual close-down seamlessly and lawfully.
Here are some key considerations if you are planning to shut the business for a short time:
Decide if there will be a close-down - NZ employment law allows employers to implement one close-down each year.
Set the dates - close-downs usually happen over summer, but you might want to close during a slow period or season.
Notify your people as early as you can - you must provide at least 14 days’ notice of a close-down and it’s best done in writing.
Decide how you will handle employee leave - you can direct employees to take annual leave or agree to other forms of leave over the close-down period.
Be prepared to speak to people so you can deal with issues effectively and get the right outcome for the business and staff.
Then enjoy the break!
This article looks at temporary close-downs and employers legal obligations in more detail.
