Changes in contract

[pinknico]

My Husband works a shift system of 4 days on 4 days off. At the moment he gets paid double time if he is working a public/bank holiday. His employer wants to change his contract so he no longer gets double time on these days.

Also they want to reduce his hourly rate and implement a shift allowance, his wages stay the same but it has an adverse effect on any overtime he might now do. Can they do this?

[Guest]

Re: Changes in contract

The short answer is yes, they can.

However, any changes an employer wants to implement should be agreed with the employees, if they are not, this is a breach of contract.

Regarding overtime rates, these will vary from employer to employer, some will pay extra for working on public or Bank Holidays and others will not. There is no legal right to pay for working extra hours and although there are no minimum statutory levels of overtime pay either, the average pay rate must not fall below the National Minimum Wage.

If his wages are going to remain the same, what is the adverse effect on overtime?

[pinknico]

Re: Changes in contract

The short answer is yes, they can.

However, any changes an employer wants to implement should be agreed with the employees, if they are not, this is a breach of contract.

Regarding overtime rates, these will vary from employer to employer, some will pay extra for working on public or Bank Holidays and others will not. There is no legal right to pay for working extra hours and although there are no minimum statutory levels of overtime pay either, the average pay rate must not fall below the National Minimum Wage.

If his wages are going to remain the same, what is the adverse effect on overtime?

At the moment he gets paid £12.47 an hour , with the new contract its £9.43 plus the shift allowance which is not an hourly rate. So overtime will go down from £12.47 to £9.43 .

Bank holidays when worked in the usual shift pattern got paid double time.

Now they will only get paid double on overtime ,which is a loss of money over a year.

[Guest]

Re: Changes in contract

Employers may need to change conditions or patterns of work for a variety of reasons, however as above, employment contracts can only be changed with the agreement of both parties. Without agreement, this is a breach of contract.