Example 4: Sample letter offering an individual employment agreement where there is a relevant
collective agreement and the successful applicant is not a member of a union that is a
party to that collective agreement
[insert date]
[insert name of successful applicant]
[insert address]
Dear [insert name]
Offer of employment
I am pleased to offer you the position of [insert title of position and name of business] at [insert
location], starting [insert date]. You can choose whether you want to be employed on a collective
employment agreement, or an individual employment agreement.
Collective employment agreement
The work you will do is covered by a collective employment agreement between [insert business
name] and [insert union name]. A copy of the collective agreement is attached. I understand that
you’re not a member of [insert union name]. It is your choice whether or not you join a union but if
you want to be employed on the collective employment agreement, then you must join [insert union
name]. If you join the union then you would automatically be covered by the collective agreement.
If you want to join, you can contact the union on [insert contact details].
Individual employment agreement
If you choose not to join the union, you won’t be employed on the collective agreement and your
proposed terms and conditions of employment will be those contained in the attached draft
individual employment agreement.
You can discuss this offer of employment, and the proposed employment agreement, and seek
advice from your family, union, lawyer, or someone else you trust. If you would like information
about your employment rights, see www.employment.govt.nz or phone the Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment’s free information line on 0800 20 90 20.
If there is anything in this offer of employment that you are unclear about, disagree with, you don’t
understand or you want to discuss, please contact me.
Acceptance of employment offer
If you agree with the proposed terms and conditions and want to accept this offer of employment,
please sign a copy of this letter [and the individual employment agreement ]and return [it or these]
to me by [insert date which gives the person a reasonable chance to get advice]. If you have joined
the union please advise me of this, in which case you only have to return the duplicate of this letter.
If I don’t receive a signed copy of this letter [and employment agreement] by [5pm] on that date,
this offer of employment will be automatically withdrawn and you will not be able to accept it.
Please advise me if you agree to me letting the union know that you have signed an individual
employment agreement. This is your choice.
Welcome to our team, I look forward to working with you.
Yours sincerely,
[insert employer's name, title]
[and contact details]
I, [insert new employee's name], have read and had a chance to get advice about the terms of
employment set out in this letter and in the attached employment agreement. I fully understand and
accept this offer and terms and conditions of employment.
I agree/don’t agree to [insert union name] being informed that I have entered into this agreement.
Signed by: ......................................................... Date: .........................
