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Employment Agreement Checklist

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Employment Agreement Checklist

Help Hana review a fictional employment agreement before she accepts a weekend job. Use the agreement and the checklist to identify what is clear, what needs checking, and what questions she could ask. This is a learning activity, not legal advice. Employment law can change, so check current official New Zealand guidance for real situations.

Fictional agreement: Kauri Street Café

Worker: Hana, aged 17 Job title: Café assistant Start date: 3 February Pay: $24.50 per hour, paid fortnightly by bank transfer. The rate is illustrative; actual pay must meet applicable minimum employment entitlements. Hours: Saturdays, 10:00 am–3:00 pm. Any extra shifts must be agreed in advance. Duties: Take orders, serve food, clear tables, and follow food-safety and health-and-safety instructions. Training will be provided for assigned tasks. Leave: Annual holidays, public holidays, sick leave and other applicable entitlements will be provided in accordance with New Zealand law. Ending employment: Either party may end employment by giving one week’s notice. The agreement does not explain how notice must be given or what happens if serious misconduct is alleged. Raising concerns: Hana should speak with the café manager. If the concern is not resolved, the agreement refers to a further step for getting support. Trial period: No trial period is included. This fictional summary is not a complete employment agreement. In New Zealand, employees should receive a written agreement and information about their rights. Some rights apply regardless of what an agreement says.

Check

What to look for

Role and duties

What work is expected?

Pay

How much, how often, and how is it paid?

Hours and place

When and where will the work happen?

Leave and entitlements

What rights or leave are covered?

Problems and ending employment

How can concerns be raised, and how does notice work?

Part A: Read for key information

Find evidence in the fictional agreement. For each answer, explain why the detail could matter to both Hana and the café.

1.What is Hana’s job title, and name one duty listed in the agreement. How could having these details in writing help both sides?

2.The agreement says Hana earns $24.50 per hour and is paid fortnightly by bank transfer. Which two important pay details does this tell her?

The hourly rate and how often/how she is paid
Her annual holiday dates and public holiday rate
Her job title and the café’s opening hours
Her notice period and who handles concerns

3.Assuming all five rostered hours are paid, what is Hana’s gross pay for the Saturday shift at the stated hourly rate, before any deductions?

4.True or false: Because the agreement says leave will follow New Zealand law, Hana should assume she has no need to check what leave or holiday entitlements apply.

TrueFalse

Part B: Spot what needs clarification

A useful question is specific and asks for information Hana needs before agreeing to the terms.

5.The agreement says extra shifts must be agreed in advance. Write one specific question Hana could ask about how she will be told about an extra shift and how she can accept or decline it.

6.The ending-employment clause gives one week’s notice but does not say how notice must be given. What is unclear, and what could Hana ask?

7.The agreement says Hana can first speak with the café manager if she has a concern. What is the next step described if the concern is not resolved?

Ask the manager to explain the café’s next step for support
Stop attending every shift without telling anyone
Assume the concern cannot be raised again
Change the pay rate herself

8.True or false: The agreement says a trial period applies to Hana.

TrueFalse

Part C: Make a thoughtful decision

Use evidence from the agreement. There may be more than one reasonable answer if it is explained.

9.Hana notices the agreement is only a summary and does not explain in detail how serious misconduct concerns are handled. Name one sensible step she could take before accepting, and explain why.

10.Write a short checklist of three things Hana should confirm before accepting the job. Include at least one detail that is already clear and one point she should clarify.