Employer changing hours

Arewethereyet

A friend of mine needs urgent help.

She has worked in a pub for 9 years but her employer has just changed her hours from school/child friendly 9.30 t'ill 3.30 to having to do three evenings.

She is a single parent so cannot do the evenings and her employers know this.

She needs the job as she is in serious financial trouble (I'm just about to help her go for a Debt Relief Order / Bankruptcy) but she just cannot do these hours.

Does anyone know where she stands legally? Any help would be gratefully appreciated as she doesn't know what to do and is feeling quite low.:(

getmore4less

whats in the contract

Arewethereyet

No idea until I can get a copy of her contract. If it does mention something along the lines of 'hours and shifts are fixed by employer' is there anything she can do? Can they sack her for not doing the hours they want her to do? Thanks for your help.

Robin_TBW

It'll generally be obvious upon seeing the contract. If it states "Minimum 16 hours per week, Mon-Fri, between 09:00 and 21:00" for example, then they can choose any hours they like as long as they fall between 09:00-21:00 on Mon-Fri and have a minimum of 16 hours per week. If this is the case then nothing she can do as she's signed up for those hours.

skintandscared_2

After 9 years' service wouldn't there be a case for constructive dismissal if they altered hours to ones which the employee has literally no way of being able to fulfil - effectively forcing her to resign? (I have no idea in law - am just asking the question)