What to do after you've been fired in NZ

• What does it mean to be fired?
• What to do after you’ve been fired in NZ

First things first, let’s nail down some definitions.

It’s unlikely you’ll see the words “fired” or “sacked” used in any official documents, like employment agreements, so it’s important to understand the different terms associated with losing a job.

There are several reasons an employer might want to dismiss a staff member, such as:

• Misconduct or serious misconduct: the key difference to understand between ‘misconduct’ and ‘serious misconduct’ is that you can’t be fired for an isolated incident of misconduct, whereas you can with serious misconduct.
• Performance issues: an employer can dismiss staff for poor performance, but only if proper procedures are followed. More on this below.
• Incompatibility: this refers to an unrepairable breakdown in relationships between colleagues, or between an employee and their manager.
• Illness or injury: these are often sensitive and complex situations, and the employer needs to consider many different factors before making a termination.
• Trial period: NZ companies who are eligible to use 90 day trial periods can dismiss employees during this timeframe if things aren’t working out. Importantly, notice is still required.

Here are the steps you should follow:

Unless you were dismissed during a 90 day trial period, in New Zealand you have the right to ask your boss for a written reason as to why. If you were in a trial period, your former employer still needs to provide a statement if asked, but this can be verbal.

We recommend asking for an explanation so you can:

• Determine if your employer has acted fairly: if you think your employer hasn’t met their obligations around your dismissal, a written statement allows you to research the steps they should have followed. From here, you can work out if you want to bring a personal grievance claim.
• Learn from the experience: at the very least, you can avoid repeating the mistakes that led to your dismissal in your next job.

Re-read your employment agreement, and make sure to engage with your employer about what’s occurred.

For example, apart from cases of summary dismissal, you’ll be entitled to your notice period, or pay in lieu. Be clear on when your last day will be, whether or not the company is expecting you to work your notice period, and when your final pay will come through.

It’s worth noting that even if you're summarily dismissed, you’re still entitled to any annual holiday days you haven’t taken.

You’ll likely be feeling a mixture of anger, sadness and concern about being fired. However, wherever possible, you want to try and leave on good terms. This means thinking about what to say when you’ve been fired – if you want to vent, do this in front of friends or family, not your boss or colleagues.

Why’s this important? Even if you were fired, an employer can still supply a neutral, or even positive reference. This is particularly true in instances where the employer knows you really tried, but were unable to carry out all your duties. Such references will help with your next job hunt.

As the news sinks in, it’s important to look after yourself. Talking to friends, family or professionals can be a great way to process the different emotional stages you’re likely to experience after a job loss.

Everyone copes with these situations in different ways, and it’s important to realise that feeling angry or upset are perfectly normal reactions.

While you’re looking for your next role, you could consider applying for jobseeker support, a weekly payment that helps people financially while they’re seeking work.

To be able to apply for jobseeker support in NZ, you must:

• Be at least 18, or at least 20 if you have dependent children.
• Be a NZ citizen, permanent resident or hold a residence class visa under the 2009 Immigration Act.
• Have lived in NZ continuously for at least at least 2 years since either:
  • Gaining NZ citizenship
  • Obtaining permanent residency, or
  • Obtaining a residence visa.
• Be ordinarily resident in NZ, and
• Be ordinarily resident in NZ when you apply.

And you also generally need to be in one of these circumstances:

• You don’t have a current role, but you’re actively seeking one.
• You’re employed part-time, and you’re looking for more work.
• You have a disability or medical condition that affects your ability to work. This means you have to limit your hours or reduce your work hours for a while.

Once you’re ready to start your next job hunt, there are a few important steps to follow:

• Update your CV: make sure it’s up-to-date with your most recent skills and experiences so employers know what you've got to offer. However, you don’t need to mention being fired on your CV, or cover letter.
• Update your Trade Me Jobs Profile: with so much recruitment taking place online, it makes sense to have a professional digital presence. A Trade Me Jobs Profile can allow recruiters and employers to approach you, even if you haven’t seen their job ads.
• Do some interview prep: you may well need to talk about being fired in your job interview, so make sure you know how to approach this sensitive subject.
• Set up job alerts: You can set up alerts from Trade Me Jobs so that we email you with relevant jobs when they’re listed on site, meaning you don’t miss an opportunity.
  

There are plenty of ways you can build transferable skills when you’re not working. This could include:

• Online courses: you can take online courses in just about anything these days, and many of them cost very little (and some are even free).
• Night classes: there are plenty of opportunities for adult learning in New Zealand. For example, there are free te reo Māori classes available to New Zealand citizens.
• Learn from a career mentor: a career mentor doesn’t have to be someone you work with, it can be anyone who’s got relevant experience in your sector and who’s willing to coach you. As well as learning skills, this person can help you rebuild and think about where it is you want to take your career next.

Your professional and personal networks can be sources of great support after you’ve been fired. As well as providing moral and emotional support, they can help you look at the options available to you, and build on the skills and experience you have to bounce back from this setback.

You neer know, someone in your network may even know of the perfect job opening for you, or have heard that their organisation is about to start hiring, giving you a potential leg up on the competition.