Workshop B
Managing Health Issues, Restructuring and Redundancy Processes and Managing the Personal Grievance Process
24 September 2026
Registration and welcome coffee: 8:30am / Course duration: 9:00am-4:30pm, including networking breaks
HR professionals and managers are constantly managing issues in relation to their employees’ health across all industries. This can range from frequent absenteeism, long term injury or illness and managing ACC claims.
Organisations across New Zealand are also continuing to undertake restructures driven by financial pressures, outsourcing, automation and AI adoption. However, poorly planned workplace changes processes continue to result in personal grievance claims and an unsettled remainder of the workforce. This workshop provides a practical roadmap for planning and implementing workplace change that meets consultation obligations, supports employee engagement, and reduces litigation risk.
It is widely accepted that there will be occasions where an employee will raise a personal grievance even if the employer is followed a robust and thorough process. This workshop will take you through the full personal grievance process from responding to the personal grievance, attending mediation and appearing in the Employment Relations Authority.
Key Learning Outcomes
Understanding the distinction between persistent absenteeism and long-term injury or illness and managing their distinctive processes.
Understanding New Zealand consultation obligations during workplace change.
Understanding when selection processes may be required and how they should be structured.
Understanding the steps to a personal grievance including responding to the claim, the role of mediation and appearing at the Employment Relations Authority.
The mediation process and putting yourself in the best position possible to defend your position.
Managing the relationship between the employer, employee and ACC.
Structuring restructures to minimise unjustified dismissal claims.
Redeployment obligations and when they apply.
Key considerations when deciding whether to settle a personal grievance.
The Employment Relations Authority – the process and potential outcomes.
