Forcing core hours

ben_m_g

The whole team have a contracted week between 08:00 - 17:00 (mon - thurs) and 09:30 - 14:30 (Friday), we have a flexitime agreement that means you can start as late as 09:30 and finish as early as 16:00.
By working before 08:00, and after 17:00 means that we accrue additional hours to use as and when.

The decision from management has been made that we all have to work between stated hours, outside of what is written in the above working policy.

For me they have told me I have to work 8-5, others have to work 9-6 and some 7-4.
This of course nullifies the flexi time arrangement that is set in place through work policy, that I have been working to for 2 years.

I don't know where we stand legally, obviously flexi time is a massive bonus, especially for those (like me) with children and who travel long distances.

I plan to agree under duress (not that I think that will help) and complain after a few weeks, but knowing what ground I stand on, would be helpfull

Undervalued

ben_m_g wrote: »

I don't know where we stand legally, obviously flexi time is a massive bonus, especially for those (like me) with children and who travel long distances.

I plan to agree under duress (not that I think that will help) and complain after a few weeks, but knowing what ground I stand on, would be helpfull

It is easier than most people realise for an employer to impose a change of contract.

Ultimately, if you cannot negotiate an acceptable compromise, then your only remaining options are to accept it or resign and claim unfair dismissal. It would then be up to a tribunal to decide if the change was reasonable. If you win (which is far from certain) you would get some compensation, probably less than you think, but would still have no job.

The employer will almost certainly argue that there are sound business reasons for the change and the only alternative would be redundancies.

Childcare and distance is irrelevant I'm afraid. You have a legal right to "short" periods of unpaid leave to deal with family emergencies but that is about it.