shift changes (ridiculous minimum shifts)

[arob27]

Hi, my work is changing it's opening hours, it previously opened to 7:30 4 nights a week, however it is changing to opening 5 nights a week until 7.

 

Full time staff previously worked one night a week, and a part time member of staff was employed to accompany them. I was that part timer. I work four, 3 hour shifts a week.

 

However they are proposing to take the half hour I am contracted to do off the end of each shift, and put it together to make 2 hours and ask me to work on the other night. this means I will be doing four 2.5 hours shifts and one 2 hour shift. full time staff are now simple 9-5s

 

Obviously this is not at all acceptable to me. a 2 hour shift is ludicrous in my opinion, especially as I travel an hour to work and that also costs money. Also having to work a shift right in the middle of the day 5 days a week isn't very fair in my opinion either. It swallows my life. (I also work saturday, so despite working being contracted only 18 hours a week, I find myself committed to 6 days work and finishing at 7, 5 nights a week)

 

is there any laws on acceptable shifts, or anything I can look up that will give me a case to argue this. I would be happy maintaing 4, 3 hour shifts, starting at 4-7.

 

thanks so much in advance

 

A

[elpulpo]

Do you have a written statement of the terms and conditions of employment, that states your normal working hours?

[arob27]

Do you have a written statement of the terms and conditions of employment, that states your normal working hours?

 

well, my contract simply states my working hours are monday, tuesday, thursday, friday 4:30-7:30.

 

but not having it at hand I do not know if there are conditions. everythings hit me a bit suddenly, I was on holiday and came back and all this was in place (the hour changes we knew were coming at some point, but not what they were to be)

[arob27]

the main point I'm going to make against it is that I think it's discriminating between part-time and full-time staff.

 

full time workers are getting their weekend shifts and evening shifts taken away for a normal, manageable 9-5. whereas part time workers are having the number of shifts increased, all late nights.

[Bigredbus]

well, my contract simply states my working hours are monday, tuesday, thursday, friday 4:30-7:30.

 

 

There may be terms and conditions written into your employment contract that allows your employer to change certain working conditions (check that!). These will usually be minor changes and will not usually be major changes to your existing terms and conditions. If fundamental changes are made to your existing contract without consultation (your employer has to consult you before making any change to your T&Cs) or agreement with you, then you could claim breach of contract.