Payroll Tips for a Hassle-Free Summer Break
4 December 2025
The Christmas season can create payroll challenges, but understanding the rules can help you stay compliant.
- Annual Leave: By law, employees are entitled to four weeks of paid leave per year. To avoid last-minute staffing problems, set clear deadlines for leave requests.
- Holiday Pay: Employees must be paid for public holidays that fall on their regular workdays. Keeping up-to-date employee records and rosters ensures accurate payment.
- Christmas Closures: Plan ahead for any business shutdowns. You must provide at least 14 days' notice before a closure. If an employee doesn’t have enough leave, they must be paid 8% of their gross earnings since their start date or their last leave entitlement, minus any leave paid in advance if agreed upon.
- Cashing Up Leave: If it’s part of the agreement or you choose to allow it, employees may cash up to one week of annual leave each year. However, you cannot pressure them into doing so.
- Casual Workers: Casual employees should receive an additional 8% on top of their earnings instead of accruing leave, and this must be clearly shown on their pay slips.
With careful planning, you can keep payroll running smoothly, allowing both you and your team to enjoy a stress-free holiday season. Feel free to reach out if you need any assistance or clarification.
As your accountants can do so much more than just the bookkeeping. We’ve outlined 5 key areas where we can offer deeper, business-critical advice and support.
It's that time again and Moving Day is upon. Moving Day' is a big day in the farming industry. To help you with a smooth transition here are some tips: Early preparation Make sure sharemilker or contract milker contracts are signed. Plan a farm inspection with relevant parties (farm owner, incoming and outgoing sharemilkers, farm manager, advisor). Recruit and finalise employment agreements for new farm staff. Communicate plans and dates with everyone involved. Contact your insurer and utility providers. Farm owner responsibilities Make sure employees leave the houses clean and tidy. Carry out house inspections for maintenance. Comply with healthy home standards. Confirm departure and arrival times with tenants. Consider drug testing, if needed. Animal movements and biosecurity Plan animal movements carefully. Clean and disinfect farm equipment and machinery. Minimise the risk of introducing exotic pests. About 5,000 farmers do this every year. Talking clearly and planning well makes this important farming tradition go smoothly.
Interest rates are always moving, but agricultural loans in New Zealand often come with tighter conditions and higher interest rates.
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