Can employer change shifts?

StevenB12

Hey all, hope you are all well.

Asking this on behalf of my girlfriend*

She works as a care assistant contracted to 24 hours a week, currently works alternating shifts of Friday/Saturday and then Saturday/Sunday the following week. Her and other staff have just been told that employer plans to change shifts between all staff as certain staff are having issues working together etc. They have signed a petition to go against this but I don't suppose that will work, does she have anything to work with here? 

She isn't specifically contracted to those days, she just got those days as it works favorably with our child care etc. 

Any advice appreciated! 

Thank you 

400ixl

What does her contract say.

Most likely they have clauses in there they can change shifts to meet business needs.

billy2shots

StevenB12 said:

She isn't specifically contracted to those days, she just got those days as it works favorably with our child care etc. 

Any advice appreciated! 

This last part is the crucial bit of information. I think you know how this is going to go. 

elsien

Before she starts complaining has she got any idea what the proposed shifts are? Because her willingness to work weekends may stand in her favour and it may be other people who get moved around.

I used to manage a care home. And the contract was always very clear that you were contracted for the hours not the specific days, and shift lengths could also be changed according to the needs of the setting. 

 Perhaps those setting up the petition could  give more consideration as to how they can behave like adults and work together effectively if they don’t want things to change.

StevenB12

billy2shots said:

StevenB12 said:

She isn't specifically contracted to those days, she just got those days as it works favorably with our child care etc. 

Any advice appreciated! 

This last part is the crucial bit of information. I think you know how this is going to go. 

Yeah my thoughts were along these lines as well sadly...

StevenB12

elsien said:

Before she starts complaining has she got any idea what the proposed shifts are? Because her willingness to work weekends may stand in her favour and it may be other people who get moved around.

I used to manage a care home. And the contract was always very clear that you were contracted for the hours not the specific days, and shift lengths could also be changed according to the needs of the setting. 

 Perhaps those setting up the petition could  give more consideration as to how they can behave like adults and work together effectively if they don’t want things to change.

Yeah as I said she's open the shifts that she works now as she gets the majority of weeks days at home with our kid, and she is looking to work every weekend eventually when he starts full time school. 

Unfortunately although the care home is rated good, from what I understand there's 2 people in particular that have been told they can't work together, but they are always on the same shifts so now work on different floors, mixed in with another one or two who will only work with certain people on certain floors, won't work with agency etc.

elsien

Sounds like some of them are in the wrong job then. Won’t work with agency is ridiculously entitled. They probably need to consider that once the care crisis starts to resolve itself they’re likely to be the first out the door. 

The manager needs to manage the situation rather than shifting people around, but if they’re not willing to do that I’m afraid your wife is stuck with the changes.

Could she make a formal flexible working request to fit around the childcare?

StevenB12

elsien said:

Sounds like some of them are in the wrong job then. Won’t work with agency is ridiculously entitled. They probably need to consider that once the care crisis starts to resolve itself they’re likely to be the first out the door. 

I think you would probably have a giggle and also being in some shock if you were the manager from some of the things I've been told! Sadly when 4 or 5 people say it it tends to be true. 

I think there is a meeting about the shifts on Wednesday next week so I will try to remember to update then 

Brie

Any employer can make changes to hours, shifts etc with enough notice.  Any employee can refuse to accept the change and may lose their job as a result.   But if she is a valued employee they won't want to lose her and will work with her to ensure she ends up with shifts that work for her and her child care.

elsien

Just in case you missed it because I did edit my previous post, she could make a form of flexible working request and see how that pans out.

StevenB12

elsien said:

Just in case you missed it because I did edit my previous post, she could make a form of flexible working request and see how that pans out.

This is how her current shifts came about and potentially working every weekend as well, they have been very accommodating on that. I think it's just been an accumulation of some of the others and the manager unable to talk to them or enforce any kind of punishment so is doing it as a collective