Knowing the basics protects you and makes you easier to employ, because you will ask the right questions up front.
Before your first shift
- You should get a written employment agreement. Read it, and keep a copy.
- Check your rate of pay, your hours, and whether it is permanent, fixed-term or casual.
- Ask how you record hours and when you get paid.
Breaks and hours
Rest and meal breaks are set out in law and depend on how long your shift is. If you are working through them regularly, that is not normal and it is worth raising.
If something is not right
Start with your manager — most issues are a misunderstanding about a roster or a pay code. If that does not resolve it, Employment New Zealand has free information and a helpline, and a union may be an option in larger employers.
This page is general information supplied by Retail NZ, not legal advice. For anything specific to your situation, check with Employment New Zealand.
Content supplied by Retail NZ