Work obligations

Part-time work obligations apply to clients with a youngest dependent child aged between 3 and 13 years. Part-time work is:

• work that averages at least 20 hours per week for all other clients with part-time work obligations

Clients with work obligations must:

• be available for, and take reasonable steps to obtain, suitable employment
• accept any offer of suitable employment, including temporary employment or seasonal employment

Note suitable employment can include employment that contains an employment trial.

• attend and participate in an interview for any opportunity of suitable employment to which the client is referred
• when required to attend and participate in any interview with Work and Income or on behalf of Work and Income
• when required to undertake planning for employment
• report to Work and Income on progress in meeting their work obligations as often as required and
• when required by Work and Income, undertake any activity to improve their work readiness and employment prospects, including:
  • any work assessment
  • any programme or seminar
  • any work experience or work exploration activity
  • any employment related training and
  • rehabilitation (but not medical treatment)

Clients with part-time work obligations must be available for, and take reasonable steps to find, suitable employment of at least 20 hours per week. However, if suitable employment is available for hours other than 20 hours per week, the client can be required to accept an offer of this job.

Work obligations can be applied on any day of the week provided it is suitable for the client's circumstances.

To help you decide if the job is suitable for the client see:

• Suitable employment
• Hours range for suitable employment

If a client does not meet their work obligations, without a good and sufficient reason, you should initiate an obligations failure.

You should consider the client's individual circumstances before referring them to a job or an activity, to ensure that they can realistically meet their obligations.

For more information see:

• Clients undertaking voluntary work
• Drug test obligations
• Employment trial period of up to 90 days
• Exemptions
• Good and sufficient reason for not meeting work or work preparation obligations
• Informing clients of their obligations
• Limited employment locations
• Meeting job search requirements
• Obligations failures
• Rehabilitation
• Reporting progress
• Setting appropriate activities for clients
• Social obligations
• Studying or training on Sole Parent Support
• Table of exemptions
• Work ability assessment obligations
• Absence from New Zealand Client with work obligations
• Work with a contracted service provider obligation