Looking to reduce to contracted hours.

[novadragon]

Good morning,

Looking for some advice in relation to my situation.

I am currently a full time contracted employee for a company I've worked for nearly 7 years.

My contract states 30 hours minimum although since day dot i have always been a full time employee with over 37.5 hours a week and sometimes over 45. I have never ever done my actual contracted hours.

Recently (last 6 months to a year) i have developed a lot of pain in my right arm and wrist through the job so made a request to instead change to 4 days on and 4 days off (which there are currently employees doing) in order to reduce my working hours and attempt to regain a pain free arm. This request was made around April and as yet i have heard nothing back.

After various developments at the company i would now like to enforce my contracted hours and request that i do not exceed them, but knowing what the company is like, they will likely delay my request so i would like to know if i can give a set period of notice that it must be completed by or if i have to just wait for them to enact my request or even if i can make said request given i am a full time employee, albeit with a contract that states a minimum of 30 hours. I am paid an hourly rate and not a salary. My contract does state "the company can and may change my working hours to suit the business needs" but doesn't mention anything about being able to force me to work more than the minimum hours.

Can i even do this and what period do i have to adhere to?

Kind Regards

[echat11]

Hi NovaDragon

Wait for more advice from ULA,

What you could do is see your Doctor, explain that your are suffering pain, that reduced hours may help your situation pain/stress (I'm assuming the anxiety of your situation is contributing to your health). Ask the Doctor
to write a report. Send that report with your request (write that you've requested change of hours previously, but have heard nothing) to your manager and Occupational Health. But they need to acknowledge that they have received it.

[ULA]

Can you post up the exact wording in regard to your contracted hours. You state that is says "a minimum of 30 hours" in which case the company is obliged to provide you with at least 30 hours work pper week but get you to work more than this. From what you have said this is not a contract that state your hours of work are30 per week. There is a real difference and will determine how you approach this.

echat11 has also provided some good advice in terms of getting some medical evidence to support your keeping your hours to 30 per week.