HR Connect Update: Christmas Leave 2021/22

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This year, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and New Years Holiday all fall on a weekend.  Under the Holidays Act, when this happens, these Public Holidays are transferred and observed on the following Monday and Tuesday for those employees who do not normally work on a Saturday or Sunday.

The 4 public holidays are:

  • Christmas Day (25 December)
  • Boxing Day (26 December)
  • New Year’s Day (1 January)
  • 2 January.

When Christmas public holidays fall on a weekend

If Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day or 2 January are on a Saturday or Sunday and you do not normally work weekends, the next work day (or days) will be the public holidays.

Example

If Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a Saturday and Sunday and:

  • Employee usually work Monday to Friday — they'll get Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December as paid public holidays
  • Employee usually work weekends — they’ll get Saturday and Sunday as paid days off. Or, if you work, they’ll be paid time and a half and be able to take a paid day off later.

If an employee usually works both Saturdays and Mondays and/or Sundays and Tuesdays, they are only entitled to one day paid as the public holiday for each Christmas, Boxing Day, New Years Day and New Years Day holiday.  In this case, the holiday will be observed on the Public Holiday.

To view Employment NZ flowcharts below for more information:
Employment NZ Public Holiday Flowchart
Employment NZ Mondayisation Flowchart

Source: www.govt.nz