Charge of working times

[Alfie_F]

Hi.

My situation is this…
two of the ladies I manage have been working 5am-1pm for a few years now. This was a verbal agreement with a previous manager, from before I started managing them.
their actual contract states they should work between the hours of 7am-6pm. The higher-up bosses have asked why they are starting work at 5am and they have told me they must start working 7am-3pm instead.
I just know that when I bring this up to them they are going to take it VERY badly and refuse. They are very vocal team members and I think this is going to cause them major upset.

Is the fact they had a verbal agreement with previous management protected under the law at all?

thanks!

[atticus]

Yes, particularly as this oral variation of their terms of employment has been in operation for a few years. I suggest that you discuss this with your higher ups, who will surely want to avoid a potentially difficult issue.