All employers in New Zealand, no matter what size, are now able to use 90-day trial periods.

Previously these were only open to employers with 19 or fewer employees but the changes took effect in December last year. 

That means if you’re hiring people on certain work visas, you’ll need to consider immigration requirements relating to the use of trial periods – specifically accredited employers and employees on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).  

Any trial periods must also be agreed to and included in the employment agreement before your employee starts work, or the trial period will be invalid.

Beware though, if an employee is a member of a union and employed on a collective employment agreement that says they can’t have a trial period then these can’t be used.