Hi We hope you are all holding up okay in lockdown. Below we have a roundup of the latest announcements and what this means for business. All our planned in-person events are temporarily on hold. We will be bringing you regular online events to help you navigate your business through the changing alert levels. More on this below.
Mask enforcement – everyone must now legally must wear a face covering, as a customer or an employee involving customer contact, at a business or service operating at Alert Level 4. When it comes to asking
customers to wear a mask, the guidance is that businesses should encourage and require mask-wearing, but a business is not be required to enforce a customer to comply with this legal requirement. Access to business premises – particularly if the lockdown is prolonged – are staff are able to get equipment to enable them to work from home? Clause 18(2)(a)(i)(D) of the Public Health Order enables people to go into workplaces to get equipment that will enable them to work from home. Further guidance on essential non-food goods - government has provided further guidance which can be found through MBIE’s Business website, here. - Mandatory individual record-keeping under all alert levels.
The Government has announced that mandatory record keeping will be introduced for busy places and events to ensure quick contact tracing. This will not come into effect until seven days after the next alert level change, and guidance is still being developed. We'll have more information about it then, regarding which businesses will be affected and what the obligations of businesses versus customers will be.
- Current locations of interest including flights of interest
- Childcare is now available for employees in Alert Level 4 businesses and services. A list of 32 providers, with national coverage, is available for parents to contact. The scheme is for the workers in Alert Level 4 businesses and services, and other exempted services such as fire and emergency and border workers, for those Alert Level 4 workers who do not have childcare in place — parents are expected to use their own private arrangements where possible.
- A reminder – Ministry of Social Development’s Wage Subsidy Scheme is now open, you can apply here
- The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme and the Short-Term Absence Payment is also available. Note you cannot get more than one COVID-19 payment for the same employee at the same time. Inland Revenue’s Resurgence Support
Payment will be open from Tuesday 24 August
For all current business and COVID-19 updates, visit www.hvchamber.org.nz. This page is updated daily.
Upcoming Livestream EventsJoin us live on Facebook for regular livestream broadcasts to get help on your questions.
Government Financial Support Roundup:
Tuesday, 24 August @ 10amGovernment Business Support Measures, with Alastair Lloyd from Platinum Partner, Kendons.
Alastair will provide further clarity and answer questions we've been receiving over the last few days regarding: - The Wage Subsidy Scheme
- Resurgence Support Payment
- The Leave Support Scheme
- The Short-term Absence Scheme
Head to the Hutt
Valley Chamber's Facebook page at 10am on Tuesday, 24 August to join the Livestream. Have your questions ready.
Employment Obligations:
Wednesday, 25 August @ 10amHow to prepare and have the conversation with your staff if you need to make temporary changes to working arrangements, including hours of work and pay, during lockdown.
McKone Consultancy is an employee relations specialist company that proudly works with small to medium employers, in a strongly collaborative partnership, offering high value thinking and processes, to help clients deliver on their investment in their people. Director, Tony McKone will cover the importance of maintaining good faith communications and how to handle staff who may be reluctant to agree to changes to their working arrangements. This livestream will cover: - Planning for when you may need to reduce hours of work/pay
- Consulting with staff on what changes may be needed
- How to inform people to ensure they are engaged in the process
- How to handle reluctant employees
- Understanding the options available for assistance
Thank you to all our Partners As always, special thanks to all our Members and Partners for your ongoing support.
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