Q: I have been asked to tidy up on our company policies and procedures and have noted that across the group ours are not standardized.

Do you have any resources i.e. Templates or format examples that we could use to assist with creating a policy and procedure document.

Are there any rules around Jury service, long service leave or bereavement leave that must be included in the employment agreement or within the Policy & Procedures manual. I know that for bereavement leave the number of days differs dependant on how it relates to you personally, does or should this be written into policy or the employment agreement.

A: The only requirement for jury service is that the employees employment is protected, anything else is an agreed term (employer paying them while they are away from work.  Long service leave is not be law so again what has been agreed.  There is nothing in the Holidays Act that states it has to be included in an employment agreement except for 1.5 for actual hours worked on a PH.

In general policy are the companies rules, the employment agreement is what has been agreed between the parties.

Here is a link to the Employment NZ website that shows you what must be included in an employment agreement: https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/employment-agreements/things-an-agreement-must-contain/

Here is a section on creating policy: https://www.employment.govt.nz/workplace-policies/