Employment Law Advice In {{mpg_location}}

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY LTD

MIKE HARRISON

Conflict is inevitable.

Protracted conflict is not.

For more than 35 years I have helped individuals, organisations and leadership teams navigate complex workplace, employment and business disputes, transform conflict into constructive outcomes, and create sustainable solutions that preserve relationships where possible and deliver certainty where necessary.

I am the Director of Employment Equity Ltd, trading as 0800DISMISSED, a New Zealand employment relations, advocacy and dispute resolution practice that has been assisting employers and employees since 2011. Through my work, I provide independent mediation, facilitation, negotiation, workplace investigations, employment relations advice, organisational change support and strategic consulting across New Zealand.

Earlier in my career I was a member of a respected and highly successful progressive HR consultancy with an emphasis on union recognition and the development of productive individual and collective relationships. I also provided specialist services in Employment Relations, Human Capital Development, Change and turnaround management, and developed and implemented HR policy and operational procedure manuals for organisations ranging from corporates to owner operators.

My professional focus is increasingly centred on private mediation and dispute resolution. As an Associate and Panel Member of AMINZ, I work with parties seeking practical, principled and commercially sensible resolutions to workplace and business disputes. I have also mentored emerging practitioners entering the profession and remain committed to the development of mediation standards and capability throughout New Zealand.

My approach to mediation is built upon a simple philosophy: people are far more likely to embrace solutions they help create. Whether working with executives, employees, unions, business owners, boards, management teams or shareholders, my role is to create an environment where difficult conversations can occur safely, respectfully and productively.

My experience in dispute resolution began long before mediation became a mainstream workplace tool. Early in my career as a Human Resource Consultant in South Africa, I worked in highly complex industrial relations environments during a period of significant political and social change. I was seconded to the National Peace Secretariat to assist in resolving violent disputes between transport operators and later participated in initiatives aimed at reducing political conflict during South Africa’s transition to democracy.

Start Your Free Consultation

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

As part of this work, I was appointed as a mediator by the National Peace Secretariat and worked alongside Dr Lusaka Lusaka, a former Chair of the United Nations Security Council. I was involved in mediating violence and disputes involving political parties, voters and bus and taxi operators in the transport industry.

During my employment relations career, I also successfully negotiated and settled industry wide disputes and agreements, and represented clients in employment disputes, mediations, arbitrations, strikes and lockouts.

These experiences shaped my understanding of conflict, negotiation and reconciliation and continue to influence my work today.

Alongside my dispute resolution work, I have built and led businesses across multiple industries. Following a successful career in Human Resources and Industrial Relations, I was appointed General Manager and shareholder of Verdun Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. During my tenure we transformed the business through strategic planning, capital investment, market development and organisational change, ultimately establishing the estate among South Africa’s premium wine producers before its successful sale.

During this period, I managed and developed more than 50 staff on the 118-hectare vineyard.

To broaden my commercial capability, I completed an MBA at Stellenbosch University and subsequently established and led business advisory practices focused on strategy, turnaround management, entrepreneurship, funding procurement, organisational development and business growth. Throughout this time, I assisted clients ranging from start-ups to established enterprises, helping them move from concept through implementation and growth.

After immigrating to New Zealand, I worked extensively in entrepreneurship development and vocational advisory services. Over several years I developed and delivered programmes that assisted hundreds of aspiring business owners to transform ideas into viable businesses.

Funding approval rates for programme participants consistently exceeded target expectations, helping many people successfully enter business ownership.

This included lecturing Business Start-up, Management and Administration for the NZTE Enterprise Allowance scheme.

Education, mentoring and capability development have always been important aspects of my career. I have lectured at AUT University’s MBA programme in Organisational Change

Management and Negotiation, taught Principles of Conflict Resolution at undergraduate level and delivered training, seminars and workshops across a broad range of business, leadership, communication and employment relations topics.

Today I divide my professional time between:

  • Private mediation and facilitation
  • Employment and workplace dispute resolution
  • Independent workplace investigations
  • Negotiation and conflict coaching
  • Organisational change and restructuring support
  • Employment relations advocacy and representation
  • Governance and professional mentoring
  • Leadership and workplace training

I am proud to serve as an Executive Board Member of the Employment Law Institute of New Zealand (ELINZ), where I contribute to professional development initiatives within the employment relations profession. I have also participated in workforce development initiatives and the advancement of professional standards within the employment advocacy and dispute resolution sector.

Outside of work I enjoy challenging myself through sport. I have represented New Zealand at World Triathlon Championship events on three occasions and remain actively involved in Masters swimming, where I hold a New Zealand age-group record. These experiences continue to reinforce the values of discipline, resilience, preparation and continuous improvement that I bring to my professional practice.

My clients value my ability to combine commercial realism, strategic thinking and genuine empathy. They know they will receive a balanced perspective, candid advice and an unwavering commitment to finding practical solutions.

If you are looking for an experienced mediator, facilitator, employment relations specialist, independent investigator or strategic adviser who can help people move from conflict to resolution, I would welcome the opportunity to connect.

Qualifications:

  • B Soc Sci, majoring in Industrial Psychology and Industrial Sociology
  • CPIR
  • B Bus Admin (Honours)
  • MBA

Specialties:

Mediation | Workplace Conflict Resolution | Employment Relations | Negotiation | Facilitation | Independent Workplace Investigations | Employment Advocacy | Change Management | Collective Bargaining | Strategic Consulting | Organisational Development | Leadership Coaching | Business Mentoring | Governance | Conflict Coaching

Current Role – Board member for ELINZ. The Employment Law Institute of New Zealand.

As the owner of Employment Equity – 0800 Dismissed, I am an employment law specialist and have had over 25 years of experience in employment law litigation. I have learned that employment disputes need to be resolved efficiently and where possible by preserving the employment relationship.

In doing so I have developed skills in avoiding employment conflicts in the first place or where this has occurred, in resolving them by discussion, negotiation or ultimately litigation.

Fortunately, New Zealand has a well-developed system for resolving employment disputes primarily through mediation or thereafter to the Employment Relations Authority. In mediation I adopt a pragmatic approach which will enable my clients to achieve a settlement that will end the dispute with their dignity intact. Should the matter proceed to the Authority, a more litigious approach is required.

In my practice I have had to appear both for and against large corporate enterprises and have represented many individuals who have been unfairly dismissed.

This experience has assisted me in preparing policies and procedures for employers in the engagement and management of their employees. It has also enabled me to assist employees where employers may not have followed accepted fair labour practices.

I have had to deal with collective bargaining and negotiating wages and employment benefits and have also had to deal with disputes resulting in strikes or lockouts.

These experiences have taught me the value of achieving a fair deal for both employer and employee as the employment relationship is an enduring one and is of vital importance to the survival of both employer and employee.

For recreation – I keep fit by cycling.

CLIENT REFERENCES

Hi Mike,

I’d like to take this chance to sincerely thankyou for the work you have done so far and to offer applause for your thoroness and accuracy in this and the other letters you sent to the employer . I’m now very confident and appreciative of your support as we head towards mediation .

Kind regards

Hi Mike,

Great work,

Thank you for such a positive experience, we both felt like we were in very good hands throughout the mediation. We are so grateful to have found you when we did.

All the best.

Hi Mike,

I just wanted to thank you once again for making this process as easy and straightforward as possible – in such a high anxiety and terrible time, I was so happy to have someone behind me that was consistent, diligent, and fought for me and the issue.

I’m really happy with the outcome and your guidance in achieving it.

Thanks again Mike, you’re a star.

Hi Dave,

Money should be through Dave , thank you for all your help!!

Will be recommending you to anyone in the future

Sent from my iPhone

Thanks so much Mike, for your help and support.

It was certainly reassuring to know someone was willing to stick up for him, besides me.

Much appreciated.

Hi Mike,

S… checked her bank account and the money went in on Friday so all good.

She and myself would like to thank you for getting this result for her and I will recommend you to other people if they have a similar problem.

Many thanks.

Kind regards,

Hi Dave,

I just want to say thank you again for your input and time on Wednesday, Im glad you put them in their place and that we got a reasonable outcome. It would have been nice to have walked out with a few $’s but hey at least I didn’t leave with less $’s. Think I got more satisfaction by seeing ………. shake in his boots..

Ill definitely recommend your business and services to more people.

Thanks again.

“Awesome!!! Thanks mate, you do a good bit of work for not much in return, but its a good job you do and I hope you take some satisfaction in that, sticking up for the little guy etc…”

Hi Dave,

I received payment on Monday……

Thanks again for all your help. In the end I found it all a thoroughly pleasant afternoon, due not only to your calm and competent manner and expertise, but also to the interesting and diverse conversation. Very much appreciated at a time that could otherwise have been most stressful.

All the best.

elinz logo

A member of The Employment Law Institute of New Zealand. ELINZ Represents Employment Law Professionals Nationwide.