This year is proving to be an especially difficult period for
employers and employees throughout New Zealand. Many businesses are
reporting a disappointing year with declines in revenue and
operating profits. Some of this performance is due to the macro
environment, such as inflation, employment, spending, and monetary
and fiscal policy. This is shaping the job market and has created
stresses and strains for both employees and employers as they
navigate the issues of higher costs, cost-cutting, scaling-back and
job cuts. Added to that mix is the upheaval of the "tech
wave" with the rise of AI and the prediction that it will be a
contributing factor to more layoffs.
There is no doubt employers are reviewing their costs, how jobs
are organised, what skills they need, and whether the work can be
outsourced. Unfortunately, this often leads to some employees
losing their jobs as employers figure out how many people they
still need or what they can afford. A key part of
