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Employer changing hours

LittleOne
Posts: 113 Forumite
My partner started a new job last September which he was really excited about. Having worked in the same industry since he was a teen, it was a new job doing something different that he'd worked really hard to get. When he was made the offer he was told which shift he would be working (9am - 6pm) which we were absolutely delighted about since he'd spent all his previous working life doing late shifts (until 10 - 11pm) which had been having a huge impact on his health, both mentally and physically. Hence the reason for making a career change!
Things have been great and he's been really successful in the role. However, his employer said to him yesterday that they are planning to move him onto the late shift in 2 weeks time. This means his hours will change from 9am - 6pm to 1.30pm - 10.30pm.
They have only just extended the late shift hours, too. They used to finish at 9pm, now it's 10:30pm and there's a plan to extend it even further to 11pm.
The reason from the employer is that they think he works really well and they need someone 'good' on that shift side. I personally think this is a load of BS. Apparantly no-one likes working on that shift so it seems to me that he was the easy option for them since he is one of the newest members of staff.
Now, we haven't found his contract out yet but he does remember it saying that they can change the hours of work. With this in mind, he e-mailed his manager yesterday and explained just how upsetting this was and went over all of the problems it will cause. (Prior to this role, he was signed off work with stress and had small bouts of depression. He was over working himself and working until late at night was causing insomnia and he was exhausted all the time) She responded with a very abrupt message last night and didn't expand on any of the issues he raised whatsoever.
I understand the employer can change the hours as it has been stated in his contract, but I'm just after a bit of advice on a few things...
Is 2 weeks too little notice for this kind of change?
Will they have to honour any events he has planned which will now fall on evenings that he is working for the next few months?
If the new hours are affecting his ability to perform and affecting his well-being, does the employer have any kind of duty to find him another shift or even another role? Or is it a case of, get on with it or leave?
I don't know what level of care an employer has to show in situations like this - so any advice here is much appreciated.
My employer for example is very hot on noticing when staff are underperforming or unhappy. We have a company counsellor, a helpline to a company who provide support, and they very frequently move people into different roles/departments within the company if someone is unhappy but who the company value.
We know there are many more people who could do this shift instead of him, it just happens he has been chosen. Whilst it's not fair on anyone else either if they don't want to do that shift, the impact it will have on him (I feel) is not worth him continuing with the job unless he can negiotiate a date as to when he can move back to another shift.
Obviously when he signed the contract he was aware of the part that said they could change his hours, but having a chat last night it sounds to me like the employer made it clear to him that there was no reason why he would ever need to be moved and not to worry about it.
(We don't have children either, as I understand it can be more difficult for an employer to change hours at such short notice when children are involved)
It's just really upsetting as I've watched him work so hard to change his career after so many years and last night he was so anxious and stressed. The e-mail he wrote to his manager was very open and honest whilst being extremely polite noting all of his concerns and offering to work on any other shift, even splitting it so he works half and half just to soften the blow. The way she has responded was so cold and uncaring it really angered me.
Things have been great and he's been really successful in the role. However, his employer said to him yesterday that they are planning to move him onto the late shift in 2 weeks time. This means his hours will change from 9am - 6pm to 1.30pm - 10.30pm.
They have only just extended the late shift hours, too. They used to finish at 9pm, now it's 10:30pm and there's a plan to extend it even further to 11pm.
The reason from the employer is that they think he works really well and they need someone 'good' on that shift side. I personally think this is a load of BS. Apparantly no-one likes working on that shift so it seems to me that he was the easy option for them since he is one of the newest members of staff.
Now, we haven't found his contract out yet but he does remember it saying that they can change the hours of work. With this in mind, he e-mailed his manager yesterday and explained just how upsetting this was and went over all of the problems it will cause. (Prior to this role, he was signed off work with stress and had small bouts of depression. He was over working himself and working until late at night was causing insomnia and he was exhausted all the time) She responded with a very abrupt message last night and didn't expand on any of the issues he raised whatsoever.
I understand the employer can change the hours as it has been stated in his contract, but I'm just after a bit of advice on a few things...
Is 2 weeks too little notice for this kind of change?
Will they have to honour any events he has planned which will now fall on evenings that he is working for the next few months?
If the new hours are affecting his ability to perform and affecting his well-being, does the employer have any kind of duty to find him another shift or even another role? Or is it a case of, get on with it or leave?
I don't know what level of care an employer has to show in situations like this - so any advice here is much appreciated.
My employer for example is very hot on noticing when staff are underperforming or unhappy. We have a company counsellor, a helpline to a company who provide support, and they very frequently move people into different roles/departments within the company if someone is unhappy but who the company value.
We know there are many more people who could do this shift instead of him, it just happens he has been chosen. Whilst it's not fair on anyone else either if they don't want to do that shift, the impact it will have on him (I feel) is not worth him continuing with the job unless he can negiotiate a date as to when he can move back to another shift.
Obviously when he signed the contract he was aware of the part that said they could change his hours, but having a chat last night it sounds to me like the employer made it clear to him that there was no reason why he would ever need to be moved and not to worry about it.
(We don't have children either, as I understand it can be more difficult for an employer to change hours at such short notice when children are involved)
It's just really upsetting as I've watched him work so hard to change his career after so many years and last night he was so anxious and stressed. The e-mail he wrote to his manager was very open and honest whilst being extremely polite noting all of his concerns and offering to work on any other shift, even splitting it so he works half and half just to soften the blow. The way she has responded was so cold and uncaring it really angered me.
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Comments
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It's important here to know exactly what the contract says about hours/shifts/notice etc.
Eg I've worked normal mondayto friday 9-5 type hours for over 3 years. However my contract is clear that I can be asked to work any day of the week between 8am and 8pm and I get 2 weeks notice of any change.
If they asked me to do these hours I couldn't do anything about it as its my contract and by working there, I agreed to this.0 -
He seems to think the part about changing hours on the contract was not very detailed. We'll dig it out tonight and go through it properly. OH seems to think it definitely was more than 2 weeks notice but we'll see.
When he signed his original contract, if he was moved over to the evening shift, the latest time he would ever finish is 9pm. Now it's looking to be 11pm which makes a huge difference.
I'm going to go through it with a fine-tooth comb tonight.
Rules are rules, but it just seems very abrupt and unfair of the employer right now to not even offer to enter into a meeting with him to discuss this properly.0 -
He's been there less than 2 years, so in essence if he doesn't do it they can just sack him anyway0
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Yes, but he won't refuse to work the hours. Worst case, he'll work them and we'll try and find another suitable job for him.
I'm just wondering where he stands on pre-planned holidays/events now in the next few months? He can't take everything as holiday so is it just tough !!!!!!?0 -
As long as he's had the required notice as per his contract.
Does his work allow one off shift swaps with someone else? That's what I used to do if I had something to attend and couldn't take leave.0 -
They do allow people to swap, but this is also the other issue working on the late shift... no-one ever wants to swap! The early morning and day shift change around quite frequently, but it's very hard to find anyone that'll swap with you on the later shift :-(0
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Ultimately you balance the value you have to the job, to the value the job has to you.
Would you walk if they said no
Would they say yes if you threatened to walk
That's in essence the negotiating power your OH has0 -
Can you approach this from the other side, and ask for a shift bonus for antisocial hours? They might consider it if they 'need someone good', and an extra pound an hour would add up over time.0
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