Can a company change the terms of a job after I’ve applied?

Metalhead89

Hi, I’m hoping for some clarification on an issue I’m having with work.

I started a job in January, as an agency worker, as a trial before I get taken on directly with the company.

I’m currently on home start, which means my working day starts as soon as I leave the house and I can drive straight to a job.

I recently got told that I’m being taken on direct with the company, along with another colleague who started a few months before me.

My other colleague has had their new contract through, and they’ve had their home start taken off them, which means they have to drive to the depot each morning before work and start from there.

My issue is that, when I applied for the job originally I was told it was going to be home start, and then when I applied the second time for the direct job, it said home start at the top of the job advert.

Is a company allowed to change the terms after offering me the job? Travelling to the depot each morning will add at least an hour’s commute each way, and although I would still take the job I feel like I’ve been cheated, I will be essentially doing 10 hours more work a week than I do now, as I get paid for driving.

Dox

Yes they can, I'm afraid. As you say, you started the job in January, well before the huge issues around Covid19 were even dreamed of. Sounds like the company is battening down the hatches to help them survive. You can raise the point and ask if the situation will change once matters improve; you can accept in the hope you can renegotiate later (unlikely); or you can quit in a huff.

SharpShooter

Changes to terms and conditions *should* be in agreement with you, or staffside reps if its an organisational change.

They may even have a bog standard variation clause in the contracr, but then they should keep you engaged in the consultation.

How you are treated does depend on your industry to be frank.

TELLIT01

In the current situation it seems counter intuitive to have staff, who previously drove straight to a job from home, travel to the base office first.  That doesn't directly affect the legality of a change to the employment terms.

General_Grant

They can certainly change whatever contractual terms they wish after they have invited applications or you have applied.
They could be trying to save money - not only on your pay but perhaps on mileage payments - and, if it is a company vehicle you use, the vehicle would be on their premises at the end of the day and not have to be collected from you if you became sick or they ended your contract of employment which does not appear to have begun yet.