Learning outcome:

Discuss the impact of key legislation on HRM practice in New Zealand

Analyse employment obligations and responsibilities within a particular context.

Assess staff development needs and policies.

Apply human resource management options to a specific situation

Assignment Task

Changes to employment legislation can have wide-ranging impacts for Human Resource Management. In the following case study you are asked to consider the impact of some new legislation and to discuss the impacts and options for compliance.

Case Study
Imagine you are the HR Manager of a small chain of hardware stores called ‘DIY for Less'. These stores sell household and gardening tools and products (think mini Mitre 10). There are 10 stores across New Zealand and 55 staff in total. The organisation chart shows the structure of the organisation (but not all individual staff):

Retail staff in the organisation have the following responsibilities

- Stock management
- Unloading deliveries and storing them safely (often heavy / bulky items) Moving items from storage areas onto shelves
- All aspects of customer service, including demonstrating use of hardware equipment to customers
- Maintaining an understanding of new products stocked by the stores and how to operate them.

Store managers
Oversee all staff
Recruit and train new staff and identify new training needed for existing staff
Manage the day to day operations of their store

The CEO
Develops the strategy with his leadership team (you and the Finance Director)
Visits stores to discuss changes with store managers and staff and to listen to concerns and motivate staff
Is now legally responsible for health and safety under the new legislation

You are responsible for assessing the impact of any new legislation on the business and for developing appropriate HR strategies, policies and training. Recently the focus in New Zealand has been on improving Health and Safety at Work and so this is the area on which this case study is focused. (See course notes and relevant readings to access the detail of the Act itself).

WorkSafe New Zealand summarise some of the key responsibilities of the recent Health and Safety Legislation as follows:
The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires everyone to work together on improving health and safety.

The Act places twin duties on all businesses, to:
1. engage with their workers on matters which relate to health and safety (including specific issues which must be engaged on), and
2. have effective, on-going ways for their workers to participate in improving health and safety.

Assessment Questions

Briefly identify the areas of HR that you believe will be impacted by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

What (if any) changes would you recommend to employment agreements for staff in the organisation?

Discuss options for training of existing staff and any new staff (induction training) on the new legislation and their responsibilities under this legislation.

Discuss options for ongoing implementation of the twin duties outlined above i.e. to engage with their workers on matters which relate to health and safety (including specific issues which must be engaged on), and have effective, on-going ways for their workers to participate in improving health and safety.