The Council of Trade Unions is urging employers to adapt to the government's four-stage alert system designed to limit the spread of covid-19

New Zealand is currently at stage two which is to try to reduce contact - and for those over 70 or who are immunocompromised to stay at home.

Union president Richard Wagstaff says now is the time for work patterns to change.

He says most employers are managing their response proactively, but those efforts need to be intensified.

He's calling the new system an excellent way to provide clarity to people and businesses, for what they should be doing.