Keeping in Touch Days in New Zealand

Keeping in touch days are a flexible option that allows employees on parental leave or maternity leave to do limited paid work without affecting their leave entitlements. These days help parents stay connected with their workplace while also giving employers a way to maintain engagement and make the return to work smoother.

For New Zealand businesses, keeping in touch days matter because they balance two important needs. Employees can ease back into work while caring for a new child, and employers can keep valuable staff engaged and updated. In places like Auckland where many industries face skill shortages, keeping good communication during parental leave is critical to building loyalty and reducing turnover

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In this guide you’ll learn:

• What keeping in touch days are and how they work in New Zealand
• Rules about hours, payment, and entitlements
• How to use keeping in touch days for maternity leave and parental leave
• Tips for employers to manage these days fairly and effectively

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What Are Keeping in Touch Days?

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Keeping in touch days let an employee on parental leave do small amounts of paid work without ending their leave or losing parental leave payments. These are sometimes called keeping in touch hours because the entitlement is counted by hours rather than full days.

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For example, one Auckland retail business shared that they had a staff member use a few keeping in touch hours to attend product training. This helped the employee stay confident about new systems while also helping the business avoid retraining later.

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How Do Keeping in Touch Days Work?

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Employees can use keeping in touch hours to:

• Attend training or team meetings
• Help during a busy period
• Ease back into work before their full return

They are not meant to replace full-time work or shorten parental leave.

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When Can Employees Take Keeping in Touch Days?

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Employees cannot use keeping in touch hours within the first 28 days after the baby is born or after adoption placement. After that, they can work up to 64 hours during the parental leave period.

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How Many Keeping in Touch Days Can Employees Do?

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There is no fixed number of “days” because the allowance is based on hours. Employers and employees can agree on how these hours are split up, whether in full days or shorter sessions.

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Keeping in Touch Days During Maternity Leave

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Employees on maternity leave can use keeping in touch hours the same way as other parental leave. This means they can:

• Work up to 64 hours while still receiving parental leave payments
• Spread these hours across multiple keeping in touch days
• Choose tasks that help them prepare for a full return

For many parents in New Zealand, especially those in customer-facing jobs, using a few hours to reconnect with systems or colleagues makes the return less stressful.

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Payment for Keeping in Touch Days

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Employers must pay employees for the actual hours worked. The pay rate should be the normal hourly wage or salary, agreed in advance. Using keeping in touch hours does not reduce parental leave payments from the government.

For clarity, employers should:

• Put the hours worked in payroll records
• Agree on tasks and pay with the employee before the work is done
• Avoid pressure on the employee to take these hours

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Returning to Work After Maternity Leave in NZ

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Keeping in touch hours are often used to help with the return to work after maternity leave. Some employees may use them to:

• Relearn workplace systems
• Reconnect with clients or colleagues
• Test childcare routines before returning full-time

Employers in Auckland have found that offering flexibility here reduces staff turnover. A written plan or agreement makes the process easier.

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Key Takeaways for Employers

• Keeping in touch days are limited to 64 hours during parental leave.
• Employees cannot use them in the first 28 days after birth or adoption.
• Employers must pay for hours worked at the normal rate.
• These hours do not stop or reduce parental leave payments.
• Clear agreements build trust and make returning to work easier.

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