Verbal vs Written Contract advice

[remlap1440]

Hi,

I am hoping someone can help me with a little advice as I am finding it hard to locate anything to help me.

I started a Job in January 2018. In my contract it was stated that I do 35 Hrs a week, 8:45 to 16:45 with an hours lunch. However before I started I went in for a visit as was asked if I could start at 8:30 to 16:30 with 45 minutes lunch, and a 15:30 finish on a Friday. I accepted this as it suited me.

Come May 2021 (3 and a bit years later) I have a new line manager who demanding that I immediately start doing my "contracted" hours as written down.

These hours don't suit so I don't want to change.

My questions would be,

Can they force this change given that I have been doing these hours for over 3 years with no problems?
If they can, how much notice should they give me?
Does the written contract take preference over the verbal one, given this came before the verbal?


Any other advice would be appreciated


Thanks

[ULA]

So the agreement to the change in hours not being confirmed in writing does make it difficult for you when the company now wants to revert back to the original contract terms.

A company can at any time, with agreement, alter contractual terms in consultation with an employee but given that the revised hours were never amended in your contract you are not in a strong position. There is an arguement based around custom and practice but how useful that would be in this situation I am not sure. Do you have an HR department, if so it may be worth speaking to them?

In terms of notice to revert back to the contractual hours I would suggest you should be given reasonable notice, although the term "reasonable" is not defined but certainly not immediately.

[remlap1440]

Thank you Ula

I was thinking that I didn't have much of the leg to stand on, other than custom and practice. I shall see what comes out of my next meeting and take it from there.