New Zealand sick leave law changes are set to be implemented next year where an employee can accumulate paid sick leave from their first day of employment.

Changes to the Holiday Act were made in February 2021 to reflect this, which meant employees would not have to wait six months before they were able to accumulate paid sick leave.

In July 2021, the number of sick leave days also doubled from five to 10 days under the Holidays Increasing Sick Leave Amendment Bill.

Workplace Relations Minister Michael Wood said in 2021 that he would implement all of the proposals with legislation to be introduced in early 2022.

"The changes put forward by the Holidays Act Taskforce will make it easier to calculate entitlements and pay, giving employees and employers certainty and transparency.

"It's expected to be introduced in early 2022, to give businesses enough time to prepare for the changes." Minister Wood said.

Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) acting manager of employment standards Charlotte de Feijter said the sick leave changes were made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Allowing workers to recover and rest at home, helps to stop the spread of bugs, as well as helping businesses: studies have suggested that people working while sick are 20 percent less productive and the healthiest workers are up to three times more productive."

Feijter added the Government accepted the recommendations to remove the six-month waiting period before employees were...

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