Severe weather and flooding:
key advice for retailers

Key advice for retailers

This is a good reminder for all businesses to be prepared, we have advice to support
business continuity planning and what to do if you are impacted by a natural disaster.

We have also summarised a list of frequently asked questions to help you manage
questions around team members pay, leave, and wellbeing.

Advice for retailers affected by a natural disaster

Have you been affected by a natural disaster? Should you need it, we have prepared some short advice dealing with employment, payroll and insurance issues.

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Civil Defence

You can find up to date information on state of emergencies, road closures, public health advice and water/wastewater advice through Civil Defence.

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Mental Health and Wellbeing

Experiencing an emergency can be overwhelming. It’s normal for you and your employees to feel upset and physically drained during and after an emergency event. You can see our advice on looking after yourself and others during times of stress below.

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Prepare your business for a natural disaster

With extreme weather events occurring more frequently across New Zealand, it is a good time to relook at the strategies to prepare your business for extreme weather events and minimise the impact on your operations, making sure you are as prepared as you can be.

ARE YOU PREPARED?

Building Back Stronger

Over the past year New Zealand has taken multiple hits from the weather or other emergencies, causing disruptions and uncertainties for business owners.

Retail NZ’s suite of practical tools, videos, and an awareness building quiz are created to help you build knowledge and capability in Business Continuity Planning (BCP). These resources have been designed to prepare your business for the future with expert tips and tailored advice to ensure that you and your team know what to do in an emergency. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

For Southland information visit https://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland or https://cdsouthland.nz/ 

For Queenstown information visit https://www.qldc.govt.nz/or https://www.facebook.com/OtagoCDEM 

The most important thing is to keep in touch with your employees, firstly to make sure that they and their families are okay, and secondly to ascertain what is happening for them. 

It is important to remember that NZ employment law does not specifically provide for what is to happen after a natural disaster occurs.  

When assessing an employee’s current situation, you will need to consider a number of factors: 

  • what the employee’s employment agreement specifies (does it contain a ‘force majeure’ clause?) 
  • what your businesses own policies and procedures say. 
  • the reasons why the employee is not working. 
  • the current state of your business and workplace.  

In such a unique situation as this, wherever possible we recommend that as a first step, employers try to seek agreement with their employees, and try to remain open to flexible solutions. 

When it comes to payment for time away from work in a situation when an employee is ready and willing to work but can’t get there, or the employer can’t open their business, then typically the day should be considered a paid day if the employer has advised the employee not to come to work.  

At this stage nothing has been announced. However, we will keep you updated if the situation changes.

Experiencing an emergency can be overwhelming. It’s normal for you and your employees to feel upset and physically drained during and after an emergency event. You can see our advice on looking after yourself and others during times of stress here. 

Assessing the property for damage

Get in touch with your landlord firstly to check that everyone is safe, and to assess any damage.

Landlords are responsible for maintaining the property in a reasonable condition. This includes paying for any damages to the property caused by a natural disaster. Tenants are not responsible for any damage to the property, or clean up following a natural disaster.

If the property is flooded, the landlord is responsible for drying the property if it has water damage, and paying the tenants for any electricity charges incurred.

Landlords should also follow National Emergency Management Agency and civil defence guidelines to ensure they are meeting obligations around building assessments, health and safety of the rental property, supply of water and repairs.

Tenancy Services has more advice for landlords here

We’re here to help

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances, contact our Advice Service on
0800 472 472 (1800 128 086 from Australia) or fill out the form below and we will get back to you.

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Would you like one of our team to give you a call? Let us know and we will get back to you.