Good afternoon,

In these challenging times, we are aiming to send you information that is most useful, and important things you need to know.

Good luck and stay strong. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any feedback or questions you would like us to pass on to Government.

Catherine Beard

027 463 3212 or cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

Q: Is the WAGE subsidy only for supporting employers to maintain staff who can still work, and they're paid the subsidy plus topped up to 80%?

A: Yes. Employers must commit to pay staff at least 80% of their income while they are subject to the wage subsidy scheme.

Q: Are staff who cannot work from home eligible for the LEAVE subsidy rather than the WAGE subsidy? If so, does that would mean the employer would have to pay them the $585, but not have to top them up to 80%?

A: No. Employees who are sick or caring for sick dependents can access the leave subsidy. Employers can access the wage subsidy to help them to pay employees at least 80% of their income. The employer needs to determine the best way for their business to address ‘unable to work from home’ issues.

More ->>

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) now needs assurances from industries and businesses that their processes protect workers and the public by limiting interactions and reducing the potential spread of COVID-19.

We will do all we can to support the sector through this process. However, without these assurances, businesses will not be able to operate

If you provide an essential service we require you to register with us, and following that we will ask you 11 critical questions about how you intend to stop any spread of COVID-19.

Please note this ONLY applies to businesses within the primary industries.

More info ->>

Register here ->>

List of business that need to register ->>

As New Zealand enters an unprecedented lockdown, businesses are having to adjust to the increasingly significant impacts of COVID-19.

For importing and exporting businesses, disruption to global supply chains will be top of mind, even as the Government works to keep freight moving. This disruption will inevitably lead to legal questions as events make contracts impossible or difficult to perform, or demand changes to previously agreed bargains.

New Zealand Government agencies have put together a number of helpful resources for businesses to help them mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.

See more ->>

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is supporting co-ordination of some additional flights to deliver freight capacity. Exporters or freight forwarders interested in using this capacity should contact myfreight@nzte.govt.nz setting out type of goods, quantity, New Zealand shipping port, overseas destination port and frequency. A case should also be made as to why these goods should be freighted – what will happen if they are not.

Importers requiring urgent supplies with high-priority goods such as medical supplies which they are unable to organise shipment of should also contact myfreight@nzte.govt.nz, setting out the same information as required for exporters.

NZTE will deal with airlines directly on this – approaches from airlines are not required under this initiative.

On 24 March 2020 the Government announced details of its air freight capacity support package. Under the support package, airlines and other air freight businesses will be invited to submit proposals for the Government to provide financial support for them to deliver freight capacity on key routes.

More information can be found in the official media release here.

Successful remote/online meetings involve a lot more than having some online conferencing software and a connection to the internet. Many of the tools and behaviours that we use when meeting face to face don’t work, or simply aren’t available in remote meetings
.
We shouldn’t even really be trying to recreate face to face meetings online. Just like remote work, remote meetings offer a new style of working that can be better in many ways.

With an bit of an investment of time and effort you’ll be able to lead remote meetings that teams will love and that will get things done.

Here are some of the tools and techniques that I think can contribute to successful remote meetings. This is not an exhaustive list, but something to get you started.

See more ->>

Advice and support for businesses concerned about the risk or
impact of Covid-19 is available through the Business NZ Network throughout the country:

Upper North Island Region
EMA
0800 300 362

Central Region
Business Central
0800 800 362

Canterbury/Westcoast
Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce
0800 50 50 96

Otago/Southland
Otago Southland Employers’ Association
0508 656 757

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