G W Scott & Associates l Chartered Accountants l Business Development & Accounting Services

The power of practicing acceptance

19/11/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

In a world of unpredictability and stress, our instinct brings cravings to survive, compete, and strive. But acceptance, not a comparison, is what will get us through. Read more…

4 burning questions SMEs are asking

22/10/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

3 Minutes to read

This time last year, you might have been pondering Christmas bonuses or booking your summer holiday, but with a completely different business landscape in front of us, your head is no doubt filled with different questions. Here we explore four common topics keeping Kiwi business owners up at night.
Read more…

Business Health Check - October/November 2020

20/10/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

As an employer, you can play a leading role in helping close the pay gap. Download the 'Closing Gender Pay Gap – Actions for Employers' at www.women.govt.nz to find out how.
Need some money to tide you over? See if you're eligible for various funding programmes outlined in the blog "4 burning questions SMEs are asking".
Want to know more about restructuring? Read through the complete process at www.employment.govt.nz.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only, and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Specific advice should be sought from qualified professionals prior to relying on any information received from this article.

Residential Tenancies Amendment Act in force

19/10/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

Big changes to tenancy legislation are underway, with the 12-monthly limit on rent increases already in effect to help tenants struggling financially following Covid-19. Early next year we'll say goodbye to 90-day no-cause terminations and rental bidding, and tenants will be able to make small changes to properties – such as baby proofing or hanging pictures. A last minute change brought in means landlords will be able to terminate tenancies with 14 days' notice if a tenant assaults them, and allows victims of family violence to end a tenancy with two days' notice.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only, and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Specific advice should be sought from qualified professionals prior to relying on any information received from this article.

Big gain for gender equality in the workplace

14/10/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

The Equal Pay Amendment Bill is coming into effect in early November. It means your staff can raise a pay equity claim with you if they believe their occupation has been undervalued, and therefore underpaid, on the basis of sex. Head to the Employment NZ website for tools and resources to help you understand the new process.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only, and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Specific advice should be sought from qualified professionals prior to relying on any information received from this article.

Smart ways to get your costs under control

08/10/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

Cashflow has been a big issue for thousands of businesses this year, and when the money's not rolling in, it can help to rethink your costs. To do it effectively involves more than just keeping an eye on outgoings. It's about looking at all the moving parts of your business to see if your systems (or lack of) are costing you unnecessarily. Here's how:
Read more…

Don’t trip! GST mistakes to avoid

01/10/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

GST can be a thorn in your side but if you understand when it's due, what to pay, and make the most of your accounting software, you'll escape unscathed. Here are four of the most common mistakes we see business owners make with their GST.
Read more…

Business Health Check - August 2020

01/08/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

Having a hard time working through staff disputes? Employment NZ's mediators offer a range of high quality mediation and case management services to help work through disputes and employment relationship breakdowns.

Considering redundancies? Make sure you follow the workplace change process to reduce the risk of a personal grievance. Redundancy should only happen after all redeployment options have been exhausted. Head to Employment NZ or Wolters Kluwer HR resources for more information.

Workers on call? Remember zero-hour contracts no longer exist. If you plan to have staff on call, you must:

give them at least some guaranteed hours of work
specify the notice period that applies to cancellation of a shift, and
provide reasonable compensation for time on call or when a shift is cancelled outside the notice period.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only, and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Specific advice should be sought from qualified professionals prior to relying on any information received from this article.

Personal grievances where employment relationship is triangular

20/07/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

1 Minute to read

Recent changes

A triangular employment relationship is when you are employed by one entity, but your work is actually under the control or direction of another entity. For example, under the labour for hire model or via a recruitment agency.

The changes: Up until mid-2020, employees could only bring a personal grievance against their employer (e.g. the labour hire company), and the third party they worked for couldn't be added to the claim. Now, under changes made by the Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Act 2019, the "controlling third party" can be added to the claim against the employer, and potentially be responsible for providing remedies to the employee.

If you contract labour through triangular employment relationships, be aware of the implications for your business and employment practices where you might have third party responsibilities.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only, and is not intended to address specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Specific advice should be sought from qualified professionals prior to relying on any information received from this article.

Why mentors are worth their weight in gold

16/07/2020 by G W Scott & Associates

2 Minutes to read

Looking to improve your business? Gaining a fresh perspective from someone who's lived and breathed business challenges could be the ticket. We talk to Chief Executive of Business Mentors New Zealand, Sarah Trotman, ONZM, about why having a mentor to listen and provide support and guidance can be invaluable for SMEs. Read more…

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Blog

The power of practicing acceptance

4 burning questions SMEs are asking

Business Health Check - October/November 2020

Residential Tenancies Amendment Act in force

Big gain for gender equality in the workplace

Smart ways to get your costs under control

Don’t trip! GST mistakes to avoid

Business Health Check - August 2020

Personal grievances where employment relationship is triangular

Why mentors are worth their weight in gold

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