Covid-19 Action (New Zealand)

Helping you raise a personal grievance for unfair treatment.

"For the last two years it seems like the only reason folks are getting the sack is 'cos of the Cov!"

Who is eligible?

The date today is 26 December, 2024. You may be eligible to raise a personal grievance if you were dismissed, disadvantaged, or discriminated against on or after 01 October, 2024.

Raising personal grievances is time limited. You only have 90 days from the last day of your employment to get that personal grievance to your employer. We've allowed an additional few days in our calculation for you to get some help.

If you think you have been unfairly treated or dismissed as a result of a non-mandated workplace policy (so, not under a Vaccinations Order) you need to act NOW!

Note: If you have not been paid wages or holiday pay properly, that is a wage arrears claim and you have six years to raise it with your employer.

What's the process?

Beware of raising your own personal grievance unless you are very sure that you know what you are doing! By the time you find out you've done it wrong, it may be too late to arrange a do-over!

The process is not too complicated, but its important that we get it right the first time so as not to waste time or resources. Here are the steps we take to getting your grievance up and running:

  • Check that you are within the 90-day limit for raising a grievance, and make sure your employer is still in business throughout the process by monitoring them at the Companies Office.
  • Collate all the data associated with your case, receive a printed hard copy and download an electronic copy.
  • Have an advocate read through the material provided to look for valid causes of action, and then draft the body of the grievance.
  • Type the grievance and send to your employer with a request to attend mediation.
  • Wait for a reply from your employer, then either apply for mediation or file the case at the Authority.
  • Schedule mediation on our shared calendar after making sure that the time and date offered works for you and for your representative.
  • Attend mediation with you (3 hours).
  • If mediation is not successful, file or resume your case at the Authority and prepare for an investigation meeting.