Rota/contract advice needed please

generaloneill

I have a written contract with the following hours.
8-5 monday to Friday

I have worked these hours under this contract for a period of 14 months.

I also have 3 kids, i believe there is some kind of law that says parents must be offered suitable working hours, which is fine as Im happy to work my contracted hours.

However, My rota for next week shows I need to work 12- 8 for 2 days next week, even though I have not been asked / informed of this.

What are my options?

I was thinking this may constitute a significant change to my terms and conditions of employment and I will be entitled to ask for consultation or redundancy. I have worked 8 - 5 for 30 consecutive weeks.

LondonDiva

Is your contract a set pattern of hours that has been breached or is it a general rota that has worked round to you taking your turn in the team / dept in this new shift?

If it is a general rota as in you contract, taken in turn and it's your turn then tough you will need to negotiate with them or find another job.

If it is in your contract that you do 8-5, then you are entitled to be consulted as it is a material change in your circumstances.

However, the fact that you are a parent has no bearing on you getting preferential hours and it may annoy your manager / other staff if you (wrongly) claim special rights as a parent.

generaloneill

Contract is specified hours 8-5 monday to friday.

I am a warehouse assistant and so need to work during delivery hours 9 to 5 minimum. I was hoping to go for a breach of contract, if they maintain that I must do the late shifts. There is no clause or small print in my contract regarding hours.

dmg24

Is this a permanent change, or just for next week?

generaloneill

could be permanent, but I figure if they get me to do it once, then they will make me do it every week.

amberowl28

Firstly i would have a chat with your boss and ask about new hours - is the change permanent? Is it ok to swap shifts with another willing collegue? Let them know asap that the new shifts are a problem and if possible you'd like to stick to original hours. Be flexible and come to some agreement. Parents are not entitled to flexible hours or special treatment. My advice is be calm and tactful, don't demand special consideration because your a parent or talk about breaching contracts, this will only put your boss on the defensive and make them annoyed and less willing to accomodate you. Good luck

Poppy9

Seems strange to alter your hours with no warning if you have a contract that states what your hours are.

You need to speak to your boss/the rota complier to check it's not just a simple mistake.

If it's not a mistake you need to ask why your hours have been changed and that the short notice is causing you childcare issues as you were not forwarned.

Parents do have a right to ask for flexible working but the employer is not obliged to meet the request if it is not reasonable for them to do so.

Savvy_Sue

If you have always worked set hours until now, where does a rota come into it?

If there's a rota for other people, but you've always been 8 - 5, it could be a simple mistake.

dmg24

Does your contract contain a clause that may vary your hours according to the needs of the business? If so, this does not give them carte blanche to do as they wish, but will allow them to make occasional adjustments.

If it is only for two days, can you not make childcare arrangements just on this one occasion? Are you a single parent?

generaloneill

They have now changed the rota to make me start at 9 and end at 6 on Monday Wednesday and Friday, the 2 late shifts remain the same. The reason I guess they are doing this is because they have cut most of the full timers to part time contracts and have banned all overtime, meaning there is no shopfloor cover in the evenings. But I work in the warehouse. Spoke to the ici shop steward and he's their union rep and he says they can't touch my hours because they're in black and white with no get out clause. Contract simply states my hours, name, job description, date, contracted hours, and signatures of acceptance of myself and store manager.

generaloneill

I wrote on the rota, I am unable to work new hours, ill let you know if I get hauled into the office today, lol. Methinks they know not about my set hours.