Employers can ask their staff not to travel under the Red Traffic Light setting -- but they can't set it in stone. 

Newstalk ZB has learned some employers are encouraging their staff to "lock down" and discouraging them from moving around the country. 

That's despite the current restrictions having no limits on regional travel. 

Lawyer Mai Chen says told Mike Hosking there's a big difference between a conversation and a rule. 

“I think it’s good to have a conversation and say where you’re going and what you’re doing and how you’re managing these risks, conversations are fine, but I think prohibitions are pretty difficult to justify.” 

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