If you have an employment relationship problem, you can't usually come straight to the Employment Court. If you have an employment problem, your first step should be to phone the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on 0800 20 90 20.
They can help both employees and employers. For example:
- if you feel your minimum employment rights have been breached(external link)
- if you need free mediation to settle your differences(external link)
(external link) - if you decide to go to the Employment Relations Authority(external link)
Follow these steps to resolve an employment relationship problem.
Note: The information contained in the chart below is also available in a text only format for those who have difficulty viewing the chart:
Alternative text for Resolve an employment relationship problem chart
Learn about a personal grievance(external link)
Learn about mediation(external link)(external link)
File a statement of problem with the Employment Relations Authority(external link)
File a challenge with the Employment Court
If you received the challenge find out how to defend it
Learn about document disclosure
Learn about what happens at the Employment Court
Find out what happens before a hearing, such as what documents need to be filed
Find out what happens during a hearing
This page was last updated: