Flexible hours law ‘ludicrous’

Media release
30 July 2007

Flexible hours law ‘ludicrous’

The Flexible Hours Bill as reported back from select committee today would cause ludicrous outcomes, says Business NZ.

Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says the Bill would cause workplaces to become less, not more, flexible.

“Most companies try to take into account employee needs for flexibility where possible because it’s in everyone’s interests to do so.

“This legislation is based on UK law, but the New Zealand version is much more onerous, with a large number of steps if the employee was unhappy with their employer’s refusal of a request – from a labour inspector through to mediation, then legal steps all the way through to the Supreme Court.

“The idea that the Supreme Court should be ruling on whether an employee should or shouldn’t get a change in working hours is simply ludicrous.

“Employers are more likely to feel fearful at any request for changed hours under this legislation as it could cause major problems for a company.

“You only have to compare that scenario with the present situation - where employers and employees work out issues regarding working hours in a sensible, constructive way – to see how unnecessary and destabilising this legislation is.

“More could always be done to get more flexibility in the workplace, but this is not the way.”

ENDS

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