In this in-depth 5-part employment law series you will explore the issues concerning the impact of social media and AI on the workplace and employment relations concerns, plus the employer’s obligations to deal with mental health in the workplace. Get the latest on Restraint of Trade Agreements including drafting tips and enforcement. Gain valuable insights in running of workplace investigations and drafting know how on employment agreements to meet an employer’s statutory obligations.
Description
Attend the full series and earn 6 CPD hours
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
Employer Obligations and Liabilities for Mental Health in the Workplace
Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Don’t be the organisation that is in the news. Gain valuable insight into employers’ obligations for managing mental health and wellbeing challenges in the workplace. Ensure that your clients’ or your organisation are compliant with all obligations and ensure they minimise the liabilities that may arise.
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
9.30am to 10.30am Employer Obligations and Liabilities for Mental Health in the Workplace
- An employers obligations in relation to employee mental health and wellbeing
- Psychosocial harm and the Health and Safety at Work Act
- How to handle performance and disciplinary processes where an employee has mental health challenges
Presented by AJ Lodge, Partner, and Lucy Gallagher, Solicitor, Anderson Lloyd
Learning Objective:
- Understand employer’s obligations on managing mental health and wellbeing challenges in the workplace
Presenters
Lucy Gallagher, Solicitor, Anderson LloydLucy graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (First Class) at the end of 2022 and was admitted to the Bar in December 2023. She initially joined Anderson Lloyd's employment law team as a summer clerk in 2020 and has since become a permanent member of the team, where she assists with a wide range of employment issues. Lucy prepares and presents at both internal and external seminars and has assisted in advising various clients, including public sector employers, employers in the aged care sector, organisations undergoing investigations and prosecutions by WorkSafe, and employers in need of assistance with disciplinary processes and negotiated exits.
AJ Lodge, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Ashley-Jayne (AJ) advises clients in all aspects of employment law working with them to provide practical, pragmatic solutions to often complex employment issues. She has represented both employers and employees in the education sector, including from early childhood, primary, and secondary schools. AJ can assist employers, employees, and HR professionals with all manner of employment advice, including day to day management of employees, restructures and redundancies, employee claims, advising on and providing representation in human rights matters, health and safety, and employment agreements and policies. AJ represents clients at mediations, in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and Human Rights jurisdictions, as well as representing and advising sports players and clubs in disciplinary and general matters. AJ is also an experienced investigator, having conducted workplace investigations, reviews, and other independent investigations in both the public and private sector. AJ is a certified Association of Workplace Investigators member and Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) and conducts independent investigations for both employers and other organisations, including schools and tertiary institutions.
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Workplace Investigations: Best Practice Processes and Pitfalls
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Are you confident in your ability to conduct a flawless workplace investigation? If not, seize this chance to learn best practice processes and invaluable tips for steering clear of common pitfalls. Take the hour to ensure you don’t make a problem even worse.
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
Chair
Melissa Johnston, Partner, BE Employment Law
Learning Objective:
- Learn insightful tips and traps to conduct and processes of conducting workplace investigations
9.30am to 10.30am Workplace Investigations: Best Practice Processes and Pitfalls
- Best practice processes: when, who and how
- External vs internal investigation: pros and cons
- Stages of the investigation
- Communicating the outcome
- Common pitfalls
Presented by Helen Pryde, Special Counsel, Buddle Findlay
Presenters
Melissa Johnston, Partner, BE Employment LawMelissa has worked for both employers and employees on a range of employment issues including contentious and non-contentious matters. She advises employers on significant restructures, redundancies, personal grievances, mediations, employment documentation, employee entitlements and undertake and advise on employment investigations. Melissa advises employees on matters including: disciplinary and performance issues; redundancies; personal grievances and employment documentation. Her clients tell her that she is approachable, and provides pragmatic and practical advice. In 2018, Melissa was a recommended practitioner in the Legal 500. In 2019, she was named as a Rising Star in the Legal 500.
Helen Pryde, Special Counsel, Buddle Findlay
Helen has expertise across all legal issues relating to health and safety and employment, including WorkSafe investigations and prosecutions, performance management, disciplinary matters and processes (with a particular expertise where issues may overlap with criminal law), restructuring and redundancy, restraints of trade, medical incapacity, and dealing with personal grievances. Helen has significant dispute resolution experience and regularly represents clients at mediation and in court. She is also an accredited mediator and undertakes independent investigations into workplace issues.
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Employment Agreements: What You Need to Know
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Are you certain your drafted Employment Agreements hit the mark? If not, get valuable insights on drafting foolproof employment agreements, covering statutory obligations, diverse employment types, and navigating contentious clauses. Not to be missed.
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
Chair
Maria Austen, Barrister, Kanuka Chambers
9.30am to 10.30am Employment Agreements: What You Need to Know
- Understanding an employer’s obligations in the workplace under the key pieces of employment law legislation
- Types of employment agreement and when to use them: permanent, fixed term, casual
- Recent changes to employment law legislation including drafting and using trial periods
- Other tricky clauses: post-employment obligations, business interruption, deductions
Presented by Alison Maelzer, Partner and Kirby Kleingeld, Solicitor, Hesketh Henry
Learning Objective:
- Understand drafting employment agreements with reference to employer statutory obligation, different types of employment and the difficult and disputed clauses.
Presenters
Maria Austen, Barrister, Kanuka ChambersMaria Austen is a specialist Employment barrister. Maria works predominantly with Ministries, Crown Entities, Public Service Departments, State Sector Organisations and corporate employers providing employment law advice across all areas. Maria is also regularly appointed to undertake high profile independent investigations and reviews and is a graduate of the United States Association of Workplace Investigator's Training Institute, a certified AWI investigator. Maria is a member of the Wellington Employment Law Committee and the NZ Bar Association Privacy and Employment Law Committee.
Alison Maelzer, Partner, Hesketh Henry
Alison has practised exclusively in the employment jurisdiction for approximately 20 years. Her background includes large firm and in-house local government experience, and she represents clients at mediation, in the Employment Relations Authority, and Employment Court. Her expertise in the employment law sector has been recognised by the major legal directories, including AsiaLaw, and Chambers Asia-Pacific. Alison’s experience covers the breadth of employment law issues, representing employers, employees, and unions in matters ranging from statutory compliance to negotiated solutions to employment relationship problems. She provides pragmatic, business-focused advice with a view to minimising cost and time for the client. Alison works hard to ensure that advice is practical, solutions-based and delivered in plain English.
Kirby Kleingeld, Solicitor, Hesketh Henry
Kirby is a Solicitor in the Employment Law Team at Hesketh Henry. Kirby studied at the University of Auckland and obtained a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce double majoring in International Business and Commercial Law. She has practised employment law since being admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court in 2019. Kirby deals with a wide range of employment law matters, including contentious and non-contentious issues for employer, employee and union clients. She has assisted with proceedings in the employment institutions and has appeared in the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court. Kirby has a tenacity for detail and is driven to provide bespoke and client-focused advice which will deliver the best outcome for her clients.
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Employment Law and AI: How AI will Impact on Managing Workplaces
Friday, 28 February 2025
AI is also now impacting employment law and you need to be able to work with it. Examine the implications of AI in managing the workplace and therefore its implications on employment relations law. You will need to consider this new workplace assistant in preparing and enforcing Workplace policies, practices.
9.30am to 10.30am Employment Law and AI: How AI will Impact on Managing Workplaces
- What new employment relations issues may arise
- Potential pitfalls and benefits from AI
- Balancing AI with human accountability
- How existing policies and practices may be impacted
Presented by Charlotte Evans, Senior Associate, Dentons
Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
*This program is postponed. New date to be confirmed
Chair
Robbie Bryant, Senior Associate, Todd & Walker Law
Learning Objective:
- Upskill on key tips for effective preparation for and management of the employment law impacts of AI in the workplace.
Presenters
Charlotte Evans, Senior Associate, DentonsCharlotte Evans is a Senior Associate in the Employment and Labour team and the Health and Safety team based in Dentons’ Auckland office. Charlotte advises on all areas of employment law including employment agreements, company policies, personal grievances, company reorganisations, bullying and harassment issues, management of performance, investigations, disciplinary matters and terminations. Charlotte also has health and safety expertise, advising clients on both contentious and non-contentious issues, and has experience advising clients on accepted enforceable undertakings. Charlotte has represented clients in proceedings before the Employment Relations Authority, the District Court and the Employment Court. Charlotte has been involved in complex litigation, including a landmark claim to the Employment Court regarding a contractual mistake issue.
Robbie Bryant, Senior Associate, Todd & Walker Law
Robbie is a Senior Associate and is TODD & WALKER Law’s employment law specialist. Robbie is primarily based in TODD & WALKER Law’s Wanaka office but also works across the Queenstown office. Robbie advises clients on a full range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. He has advised start-up businesses through to some of New Zealand’s leading public and private sector organisations, including not-for-profit organisations. Robbie also advises employees at all levels including senior managers and executives. An experienced litigator, Robbie represents clients in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court, and he has made appearances in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Robbie is regularly asked to appear for clients in mediations and has also appeared before the ACC Review Authority and Human Rights Commission. Robbie also has experience in conducting external investigations and mediating disputes.
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Restraints of Trade in Employment: Drafting and Current Trends
Thursday, 6 March 2025
Are you fully across how to draft an airtight restraint of trade clause to effectively prevent your client's employees from joining competitors when their employment ends? No one wants important information to walk out the door and to a competitor with the employee
Get the latest on restraint of trade recent amendments, drafting tips and recent cases on enforcement of Restraints of Trade.
Description
Attend and earn 2 CPD hours
Chair:
Robbie Bryant, Senior Associate, Todd & Walker Law
9.30am to 10.30am Restraints of Trade in Employment: Drafting and Current Trends
- Gain insight into best practice for drafting restraints of trade to ensure reasonableness and enforceability
- Examine how to enforce restraints of trade if they are breached
- Recent Authority and Employment Court guidance on restraints
Presented by Kelly Rowell, Special Counsel, BE Employment Law
Learning Objective:
- Learn how to draft and enforce a restraint of trade clause in light of recent developments and Guidelines
- Update on the enforcement of Restraint of Trade clause and recent cases
10.30am to 11.30am Enforcement of Restraints of Trade
- Assessing the problem: What is the employer's vulnerability?
- Reviewing the applicable restraints: Non-compete? Non-solicitation? Other?
- Are the restraints as drafted enforceable? criteria for enforceability
- Strategic considerations: What type of termination is this? Will/can the employee compete? What steps can be taken to improve the employer's position before the decision to terminate employment?
- Interim relief
- Jurisdiction issues: impact of Supreme Court decision in FMV v TZB
- Relevant recent cases
Presented by John Hannan, Barrister, Bankside Chambers
Presenters
John Hannan, Barrister, Bankside ChambersJohn Hannan is a highly experienced lawyer specialising in employment law, education law, and commercial and property litigation and advice. He was a senior partner at DLA Piper New Zealand until joining the independent bar in 2019. He has acted for numerous primary, secondary, and tertiary education providers in employment, student discipline and privacy matters. He is an experienced advocate in the ERA, Employment Court and High Court. He also acts as an investigator and is a qualified mediator. John acts for insurers in claims under Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) policies.
Robbie Bryant, Senior Associate, Todd & Walker Lawx
Robbie is a Senior Associate and is TODD & WALKER Law’s employment law specialist. Robbie is primarily based in TODD & WALKER Law’s Wanaka office but also works across the Queenstown office. Robbie advises clients on a full range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. He has advised start-up businesses through to some of New Zealand’s leading public and private sector organisations, including not-for-profit organisations. Robbie also advises employees at all levels including senior managers and executives. An experienced litigator, Robbie represents clients in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court, and he has made appearances in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Robbie is regularly asked to appear for clients in mediations and has also appeared before the ACC Review Authority and Human Rights Commission. Robbie also has experience in conducting external investigations and mediating disputes.
Kelly Rowell, Special Counsel, BE Employment Law
Kelly is Special Counsel at BE Employment Law, a specialist employment law firm. Prior to joining BE Employment Law, Kelly had her own practice as an employment law barrister and has specialised in employment law for the duration of her career. Kelly has experience in all aspects of employment law and enjoys both advisory and dispute resolution work. She has represented clients at the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court and also been involved in cases at the higher appellate levels.
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