Employment Conditions

Employment benefits and terms vary from country to country and from organisation to organisation. What may be 'standard' in your present workplace may not be in another. When contemplating overseas experience psychologists often find that there will be both gains and losses in terms of employment conditions. It is therefore important to consider whether the employment benefits offered would suit your needs.

The following are typical employment terms and benefits that you can expect to find in New Zealand. If you are offered a position you would be forwarded a detailed employment contract. The contracts must contain a number of key clauses. These include: a procedure for personal grievances, disputes procedure, a term with an expiry date for collective agreements, wages, hours of work, holidays, sick leave entitlements. Some employers may negotiate additional specific terms such as assistance with relocation. Sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disabilities cannot be discriminated against, and strict laws enforce this.

Psych-Recruitment will provide shortlisted psychologists with comprehensive financial information that includes an estimate of likely salary, details of relocation costs and information to help determine living costs.

Employment Conditions

Work Hours

Typically 40 hours per week for full time positions. A number of employers offer flexi start and finish times.

Holiday Entitlement

New Zealand holiday legislation mandates a minimum annual leave at 20 days per year. Some employers offer 25-30 days after a certain number of years continuous service. In addition to annual leave there are 11 days of public holidays (Bank holidays) each year.

Sick Leave Entitlement

A few employers offer unlimited sick leave entitlement, however, most offer around 8 days per year which may be accumulated to a maximum of between 80-260 days.

Professional Development

As continuing competence is a requirement of psychologist registration. Therefore all of our clients support professional development. Some offer a set number of days and budget, others are on per application basis.

Psychologists Practicing Certificates

All of our New Zealand clients will reimburse the Psychologists Board’s annual practicing fee. Note this is a different fee to the one off registration application fee.

Relocation Expenses

A few employers may make a contribution to relocation expenses. We will advise where clients may be prepared to assist and help with negotiating this.

Health Care

There is good universal health and disability system funded from the general tax system to cover medical needs. Those who obtain residency or work visas, valid for 2 years or more, will have access to the same publicly funded services as New Zealand citizens. New Zealand also has a universal accident insurance system for accidental injury in or out of work.

Salaries

Salary scales vary from employer to employer. Psych-Recruitment will appraise your skills and experience and provide shortlisted psychologists an estimate of expected salary level.

Pensions

New Zealand offers a basic retirement called superannuation which is universally available to all. The current retirement age is 65. To qualify applicants would be permanent resident or citizens who have lived in New Zealand for at least 10 years since aged 20. Five of those years must be since turning 50.

There is also popular voluntary scheme that acts as a top up to the superannuation and is called 'Kiwi Saver’, this is available to citizens and residents. Kiwi saver is a flexible and attractive scheme that offers many advantages including tax incentives employer’s contributions.

New Zealand Income Tax Rates

New Zealand tax law focuses on simplicity, fairness and predictability. Key features include: no inheritance tax, no general capital gains tax (it can apply to some investments), no local or state taxes apart from property rates paid to local authorities, no payroll tax, no social security tax, no health care tax, apart from a minimal accident compensation tax. Personal income are  lower than many OECD countries. Of potential interest to new immigrates will be tax breaks on worldwide income for the first few years to assist with gradual transfer in to the country. The New Zealand Inland Revenue is responsible for taxation. 

Psych-Recruitment will provide psychologists registered with us a breakdown on taxes and other deductions in order to understand the actual in the hand pay rate

Cost of Living

How much does it cost to live in New Zealand? What would your standard of living be like? These are our most asked questions yet we find comparing and contrasting living costs between countries, and even within New Zealand, complex. Different countries and even locations have certain peculiarities to consider, such as London's high commuting costs, the USA’s high tertiary education fees, Europe's high fuel costs. Then there is the cultural difference such as America’s practice of service tipping, or whether health care and pensions are paid for out of the general tax or an individual’s responsibility. Factor in whether you are single, a couple or a family and the equations become even more intricate.

New Zealand certainly has its own set of peculiarities. The economy is based on just 4.4 million inhabitants and is affected by its geographical isolation, small domestic markets, maintaining a well developed infrastructure, support of universal health and welfare systems.

Psych-Recruitment will provide a range of information to help determine likely living costs and standard of living when a position has been matched to a jobseekers needs.

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