Can they just alter your working hrs?

[enaid]

My lad has been working in a supermarket for a contract cleaners for a few months now. He has a contract but the hrs are not stated and in fact it says 6 hrs per week instead of 6 per day.
Anyway he was working 1pm till 8pm then cause of credit crunch they said he could only do 3pm till 8pm 6 days a week. It takes him an hour and a half by bus to get there although it is only jusrt down the motorway from us.
His boss has just rang him to say he must now start at 5 in the morning till 10.
He has taken on a new starter and the new starter is having my lads hrs.
He has no chance at all of getting there for 5 every morning so he will have to leave.
Can this just happen ? I am going to tell him to get it in writing because he doesn't want to leave he just can not do the hrs that have now been told he has to do.
Any advice on this please, cause I know he is going to have great difficulty getting another job.
Enaid x

[Tools]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

That would depend on the wording contained in his contract of employment Nelly.

If you could copy the wording from his agreed contract for everyone to look at.

Many contracts usually have within them something covering this, mine does and it is perfectly legitimate in my employment for my employer to alter the hours of my work.

[enaid]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

Many thanks for that Tools, I was gutted last night when he rang from work to tell us.
He was left a note with a number to ring if he had any problems lol. You start on these new hrs day after tomorrow due to "Operational Circumstances".
The only way he could get there for 5 in the morning would be by taxi at a fiver a go, 6 days a week, then his bus pass for coming home, he would be better off on job seekers.
He did a few hrs for the store at night over xmas and has got to know all the managers there so he has an interview on Teusday , fingers crossed, for all his faults and he has a few lol, he is willing to work.
Just got CCCS sorted again as well cause he was working they doubled his payments, no way could he pay what they say if he comes out of work again.
Nightmare lol flippin kids, who'd ave em ?

[Birdie]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

How long has he worked for them?

[enaid]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

He started 8th September this year, so only just 4 months.
What upset me more was they have taken on a new strter and put him on my lads hrs.

[Tools]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

Has he actually told his manager/supervisor that the change in hours will create a problem or additional travel costs. It may be that if he does explain the problems created by this may be overcome by simply communicating his concerns.

[enaid]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

Has he actually told his manager/supervisor that the change in hours will create a problem or additional travel costs. It may be that if he does explain the problems created by this may be overcome by simply communicating his concerns.

Yes he has and said to his manager he didn't think he could just change his hrs like that. The manager said he could do what he liked, so the lad left it at that.

[Ragdog]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

Sounds to me like your son may be a victim of bullying, the manager seems not to like him. Unfortunately as he has only been there for 4 months, he has not met the statutory requirement of 1 year before he has any rights for constructive dismissal, unless he can prove he was discriminated against under certain laws - ie I take it he's not pregnant (lol), otherwise he could claim sexual discrimination, or whistleblowing would be another.

Has he thought about raising a grievance to his managers Line Manager? Do this in writing, stating his reasons for not wanting his hours changed, and he could cite his children as a reason as well. The store grievance policy should be laid out with the contract, companies of this size usually give out this stuff. If not, he could request it. It may be that the manager is just a control freak, and things may go in your son's favour if he is deemed as making a reasonable request, and his manager may get his knuckles rapped.

This could go both ways - the manager may be out to get him after this, or he may realise that your son is not a pushover and will lay off. I once tackled a bullying manager in this way, and it worked for me but it really depends on your son's temperament - some people are not strong enough or can't be bothered to cope with pressures like that, he may just decide to move on.

[Birdie]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

Breach of contract - no time limit in employment (if his working hours are not in his contract, then it would be implied contract)
Also breach of contract due to non payment of his wages.
Increased costs due to travel
Bullying and harassment

[orfoster]

Re: Can they just alter your working hrs?

Breach of contract - no time limit in employment (if his working hours are not in his contract, then it would be implied contract)
Also breach of contract due to non payment of his wages.
Increased costs due to travel
Bullying and harassment

Non payment in wages amounts to a remedy action in the Small Claims Court for unauthorised deducation in wages.