The Holidays Act turned 20 years old on 1 April 2024 (its implementation date). The Act was not written with payroll in mind, which has led to over $3 billion in underpayments in the health sector alone, according to the latest reports.

This special webinar aims to provide you with key themes from the initial proposals in the Exposure Draft of the Employee Leave Bill and how these could impact payroll.

If any of the proposed changes are implemented, it will lead to significant changes for payroll—particularly in how systems are used, leave criteria are determined, and calculations are made. Payroll practitioners will need to assess whether their payroll systems are performing these tasks accurately and ensuring compliance with the new requirements.

The Bill encourages the systematisation of leave calculations, checks, and tests within payroll software. Payroll professionals and businesses alike will need a clear understanding of these potential changes and how they may impact payroll processing and related activities in the future.

It’s crucial for payroll teams to start considering these changes now. As more information becomes available, they will need to assess whether their current payroll provider can meet the new requirements (based on ongoing communication) and identify any potential risks for their business.

The Targeted Consultation, in which NZPPA is involved, is one of several steps in the Holidays Act reform process. This webinar will explain the next steps and how you can participate, including the activities NZPPA is undertaking.

NZPPA will also provide a checklist of key areas payroll teams should be mindful of in relation to the changes in the Holidays Act.

Please note, all documents currently provided by MBIE are embargoed. However, attendees will receive NZPPA’s presentation notes, covering the high-level themes discussed during the webinar. A recording of the webinar will also be made available to attendees afterwards.