Hi everyone, can someone please tell me if there is a legal requirement for the amount of notice an employer has to give before they can change your shift pattern?? help would be much appreciated thank you..

Hi, yes there is......It should be in your contract of employment.

Regards.

Scott.

Hi there, as Scott says - look at your contract of employment. There might be a clause in there which says your employer may change your hours of work to suit the business needs (or something similar). I think it would be unreasonable of them to give less than 7 days notice - unless there is an urgent business need. However, you can object if the change is made too soon for you to make arrangements for child care or transport etc.

What exactly are they asking you to change to?

Kind Regards

Ell-enn

Sorry it took me so long to get back, my contract just states that you will be required to work 40 hours a week, it doesnt really say anything else about notice of shift change or anything. Its just we only get 1 days notice for shift change, for example change a 6- 2 for a 2- 10 etc.. i wondered if they could legally get away with it...

It should be written down somewhere, i know with mine unless i agree they have to give 56 days notice

Have a look at Direct gov .com

Your employer may need to change your conditions or patterns of work because of business or economic factors. However, your contract of employment can only be changed if both you and your employer agree to this. It's a breach of contract to change your working conditions without your agreement.

AS far as I’m aware unless your contract says otherwise, you company only has to give reasonable notice. Now my guess is that 24 hrs to change from 6-2 to 2 -10 is reasonable but would not be if say from 10-6 to 6-2 etc etc.

Best advice is to write to the company and ask them their policy on notice times. You never know, maybe higher management may considers 48 hrs is the way and it’s the line mangers who only give 24 hrs.

ok all, thanx for the info. will try and speak to someone at work and find out, just wanted to get an idea before i tried with them. cheers:)

You may also find the information in your company handbook if you have one. If not, ask you Personnel Manager who will provide the information.

It is usually quite some time. I work for a supermarket and they have to give me 12 weeks notice before changing my contract unless I agree to it.