Plans to double sick leave isn't a necessary move. 

The Government is officially pushing ahead with plans to double workers' sick leave from five to 10 days a year.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the move is about making sure we have productive and healthy workplaces.

Jason Ennor, CEO of MyHr, told Kate Hawkesby that before Covid-19, this wasn't seen as a crisis within employment.

"It appears to be a reaction to the unique year of 2020, so potentially a one-off might help, but not a doubling of it." 

Ennor says that people should not come to work if they are sick, but five days a year sick leave, accumulating up to 20, for employees has been fine before 2020.

The Bill will have its first reading today.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood says hundreds of thousands of payroll systems will have to introduce any changes.

He says the Government's very conscious of getting things right when they're rolled out - which would be later next year.

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