Change of work start times

[ande]

Hi, I work for a large logistics company as a HGV driver in Nottinghamshire, I work Monday to Friday with a 7am start and have done for four to five years .
My employer has informed me that due to rescheduling of the work schedules my start times will be changing from 7am to a shift basis with a start time ranging from 14:00 to 17:00 .
This will totally destroy my home and social life as my wife works four days a week and cares for our Grandchildren on the fifth so I would hardly see them and when I did I would be tired due to lack of sleep as I find it difficult to sleep during the day which is the main reason that I came off the shift rota and onto a regular start time.
There is still be going to be work to be done there at 7am, they have just changed my start time .
so my question to you is have I got any rights to defend myself against this ?

thanks for any help given Andy

[MIKE770]

change jobs schedule if it is not to your liking? and as you state health problem then time to look to move on! you can ask for interview with higher management to discuss? or look for another suitable job to your requirements. They have a business to run and situations change and we have all in the past had to adjust to suit job or move on.

Sure others will comment also?

[MIKE770]

ULA may be able to comment this subject.

[ande]

Hi, MIKE770 thanks for the response ,If the job had changed or was not there anymore I wouldn't mind but it hasn't they've just jiggled everyone's start times about thanks for looking Andy

[ULA]

What does your terms and conditions of employment state about your hours of work?

What does your contract state about being able to make changes to your terms and conditions?

Whilst waiting for your answers to the above, I will set out some general comments regarding an employer making changes to terms and conditions of employment which they can do but they need to follow a fair process to implement a significant change/s if they do not want to face a claim for breach of contract. To do this they need to fully consult with you and agree any changes, however if you do not agree the law does recognise that employers have to adapt to changing market conditions, and that sometimes the contract of employment must be varied to reflect this.

If your employer has given reasonable and due consideration to objections and alternative suggestions that you put forward, but deem those suggestions to be unworkable, then they can terminate your original contract and offer a new one in its place on the new terms. If you do not agree to the changes, then you must make it clear in writing and this should be set out as as grievance.

If you do not tell your employer you disagree with a change, this will be taken to mean that you have accepted it. You need do this straight away, or as soon as possible after the change has been introduced.

You can continue to work 'under protest' for a while but you cannot do this indefinitely without taking further action. This may mean making a claim to an employment tribunal, or, in some extreme situations, resigning from your job and claiming constructive unfair dismissal but I would caution on this course of action. If you do not want to do either of these things, you may eventually have to accept the changes to your contract.

[ande]

Hi ULA and thanks for the advice ,I seem to have been overtaken by events and the proposed shift Changes are on hold and we are now on 45 days notice and facing redundancy or relocation as my Company may or may not have withdrawn there services from the company we are contracted too and as usual everything's a big secret.
I cant tell you anything about it because I don't know anything but I feel that I may need your advice in the near future as this lot are a right set of slippery so and so's, thanks for your help Andy

[ULA]

Hi ande sorry to hear that the situation has potentially changed in the way it has.

You know where we are if you need us as things become more clear. Just bookmark the URL for this thread and repost on it when you do need us, as continuity helps and it may be useful to refer back to these earlier posts.