NEWS ROUNDUP
Across the ditch
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ith the opening of transTasman travel, ‘bubble uncertainty’ still exists for many employees and employers. Most employment lawyers agree it is reasonable for an employer to ask employees to tell them if they are travelling overseas and thus are at greater risk of catching COVID-19 due to their travel. However, this must be done reasonably and must not unreasonably intrude on their personal affairs. Any personal information collected for the
purposes of COVID-19 must be kept confidential in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. An employer can withhold consent to an employee’s request for annual leave. However, this must not be unreasonable; as stated in the Holidays Act 2003, section 18. It is unlikely to be reasonable for an employer to decline annual leave simply because an employee wants to go overseas.
It’s prudent to identify and make contingency plans, so both employers and employees have some certainty if things go wrong during travel. Discussing remote working options, payment entitlements, expectations and obligations should all be factored into discussions. When in doubt, it’s always worth seeking the guidance of an employment lawyer.
Climate action toolbox
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new climate action toolbox will enable business action on climate change and help to overcome the 80 per cent of smallto-medium enterprises that don’t know where to start. For the first time, smaller businesses now have access to a free, comprehensive tool to help them act on climate change. Created by the Sustainable Business Network in partnership with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, New Zealand Transport Authority, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, BNZ, Meridian Energy and DNA Design, the tool provides tailored advice and support in five major impact areas, such as moving people, moving goods, office operations and designing products. It has over 40 actions, including switching to electric vehicles, installing LED lighting and converting
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HUMAN RESOURCES
WINTER 2021
to clean energy equipment. Businesses will be provided with case studies on other companies in their community undertaking actions under relevant impact areas. For more information, visit: business.govt.nz This comes in the month that the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, David Clark, says New Zealand has become the first country in the world to introduce a law that requires the financial sector to disclose the impacts of climate change on their businesses and explain how they will manage climate-related risks and opportunities. The Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosure and Other Matters) Amendment Bill received its first reading in April. Minister Clark said, “It is important that every part of New Zealand’s economy is helping us cut
emissions and transition to a lowcarbon future. Becoming the first country in the world to introduce a law like this means we have an opportunity to show real leadership and pave the way for other countries to make climate-related disclosures mandatory.” The Bill will make climate-related disclosures mandatory for around 200 organisations, including most listed issuers, large registered banks, licensed insurers and managers of investment schemes. Once passed, disclosures will be required for financial years starting in 2022, meaning the first disclosures will be made in 2023. More information is available at: www.mbie.govt.nz/ business-and-employment/ business/regulating-entities/ mandatory-climate-relatedfinancial-disclosures
