Territorial Forces Employer Support Council (TFESC)

The TFESC is a national organisation appointed by the Minister of Defence following the enactment of the Defence Amendment Act 2004.

The TFESC was set up in 2006 to:

• Promote service in the Reserve Forces
• Provide advice to the Minister, and
• Facilitate good relations between part-time Reserve Forces personnel and their civilian employers.

The TFESC also communicates to employers the importance of the Reserve Forces for New Zealand’s strategic military capability, and the advantages of having employees train in the military.

Although legislation is already provided for Reserve Forces personnel to train without risking loss of employment, the TFESC interacts with employers and employer groups about any concerns they have as employers of Reserve personnel - such as letting staff deploy during busy periods of work.

TFESC Members

The TFESC is sponsored by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and consists of 12 senior business representatives drawn from both the public and private sectors.

Regional Employer Support Committees

In addition to the TFESC, there are 6 Regional Employer Support Committees (RESCs) that report to the TFESC.

Awards Programme

The TFESC recently began a nationwide awards programme in recognition of employers who are particularly supportive of their Reserve Force employees.

The law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts was named as 2008 Employer of the Year in acknowledgment of their support of solicitor and Reserve Force member Nick Jones.

Nick says he was grateful about the way Minter Ellison viewed his recent deployment to the Solomon Islands as a member of the Reserve Forces:

"My employer saw my deployment as being a part of my development as a lawyer and as a person. They really wanted to see me get out there and learn leadership in the ‘school of hard knocks’ environment."

Nick Jones