Can my boss stop me reducing my hours?

Sherratthead

I currently work 6.5 hours per day (9-4.30 with a lunch hour 1-2)...


I want to reduce my hours to 6 total, and personnel have told me I can legally work straight through from 9-3, not having a lunch hour. If I do this, I'd only lose half an hour's pay per day.


However, they also said that my boss has to approve it, to ensure that I can do the same work within that shortened day. (I KNOW I can).


I asked my boss today and all he said was "leave it with me, let me have a think"


Does anyone know where I stand if he says NO...?


CAN he actually say that...?

KiKi

Sherratthead wrote: »

I currently work 6.5 hours per day (9-4.30 with a lunch hour 1-2)...

I want to reduce my hours to 6 total, and personnel have told me I can legally work straight through from 9-3, not having a lunch hour. If I do this, I'd only lose half an hour's pay per day.

However, they also said that my boss has to approve it, to ensure that I can do the same work within that shortened day. (I KNOW I can).

I asked my boss today and all he said was "leave it with me, let me have a think"

Does anyone know where I stand if he says NO...?

CAN he actually say that...?

You can request a different set of hours, and you may have a good reason for it, but your boss is under no obligation to agree to it. If he says no, and he may have a reason for saying so, then there's not much you can do.

If you have a reason for putting in a formal request for flexible working or reasonable adjustments for caring responsibilities, then it's possible it will be considered more seriously or they may have a policy around allowing it as far as the business allows.

But your workplace are not obliged to work around your personal preferences for working hours.

KiKi

Sherratthead

The OP works 9-4.30 with an hours lunch break that she doesn't get paid for.-that's how I read it.


That's right Tattycat...

tattycath

Sherratthead wrote: »

The OP works 9-4.30 with an hours lunch break that she doesn't get paid for.-that's how I read it.


That's right Tattycat...

Thanks. Don't know where my post went though. There appear to be a few glitches on here tonight.

Sherratthead

There are indeed - I'd had 3 replies a few minutes ago!

paddedjohn

Your boss doesn't have to change your hours to suit you, at the end of the day you are there to work the hours that suit them.

Sherratthead

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll just have to hope my boss agrees.

getmore4less

One issue with doing a 6hr shift with no break is it makes overtime an issue as you need to have a break to go over 6hrs.

agrinnall

You might well be able to do the same work in a shortened day, but what happens if your boss turns round to ask you to do something at 4 pm only to find that you went home an hour ago? If your boss knows that's never going to happen then you may well be allowed to make the change, but if he says no then that's the end of it.