Employer making me work in a different department will continuing my job

watersportsinstructor

Hi, I am the only water sports instructor at my place of work, I have just been told that I have to work in another department (grounds maintenance) so completely different to my role as well as still having to in my original role of water sports.
As most contracts say you will need to meet the needs of the company and carry out additional tasks and responsibilities. Surely this would be out of the question regarding that it's two polar opposite jobs.
My contract does start that if the water sports centre is shut then I'm to report to maintenance, however the only time that it is shut is from October to the beginning of April.
Am I within my right to decline this? Where would I stand from a legal point of view?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you 

Marcon

watersportsinstructor said:

Hi, I am the only water sports instructor at my place of work, I have just been told that I have to work in another department (grounds maintenance) so completely different to my role as well as still having to in my original role of water sports.
As most contracts say you will need to meet the needs of the company and carry out additional tasks and responsibilities. Surely this would be out of the question regarding that it's two polar opposite jobs.
My contract does start that if the water sports centre is shut then I'm to report to maintenance, however the only time that it is shut is from October to the beginning of April.
Am I within my right to decline this? Where would I stand from a legal point of view?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you 

How long have you been employed there?

watersportsinstructor

1 year in a different department here, just moved over to water sports in February this year 

BoGoF

How much do you value your job, with less than 2 years service it would be very easy for them to get rid of you.

TELLIT01

If you are the only water sports instructor presumably you are going to be occupied close to full time during the summer months.  If not, it's not unreasonable of the employer to expect you to do other work, rather than having the luxury of sitting with your feet up at their expense.  You can of course decline to do as asked, just as they can decline to continue employing you.

Marcon

watersportsinstructor said:

1 year in a different department here, just moved over to water sports in February this year 

Then you've got very little protection, if any, if they dismiss you because you don't play nicely (in their eyes!).

EnPointe

A lot of   oputdoor  activities Instructors  are employed seasonally , the fact  that this employer  would like to keep you  employed on a year - round basis is  more than many instructors  get... 

stu12345_2

i worked in a holiday park in an amusement arcade, if it was quiet I was told to help the gardener.

of course it was unskilled gardening work I had to do, cos I no experience about gardening, it was digging up weeds, I had to do.

but it was a seasonal job 
I guess yours involves a lot of outdoor, cold , wet winter work now  once the pool closes

maybe it's not so bust at mo where you are and you may get moved back into the pool in the summer 

EnPointe

stu12345_2 said:

i worked in a holiday park in an amusement arcade, if it was quiet I was told to help the gardener.

of course it was unskilled gardening work I had to do, cos I no experience about gardening, it was digging up weeds, I had to do.

but it was a seasonal job 
I guess yours involves a lot of outdoor, cold , wet winter work now  once the pool closes

maybe it's not so bust at mo where you are and you may get moved back into the pool in the summer 

OP is a 'watersports instructor'   their job is about  cold and wet  whether that's canoeing, windsurfing, sailing, raft building or whatever ... 

as  i said in my previous  post   so many  watersports instructors work seasonally .. 

theoretica

If they don't have enough water sport instructing for you to do their realistic options are to pay you to do something else, or to cut your hours.  If you would prefer the second, discuss it with them. 

Malale

In such a situation, you have the right to refuse the proposed change and continue to perform duties consistent with your original role. Legally, your position is based on the fact that a change in your role is a material breach of your contract.