Employer has refused a request for a temporary reduction in hours.

[Scipio]

My daughter, a 44yr old mother of three, works full time as a supervisor for a medium sized nursery /garden centre (50+ employees) and has done for three years. The first two years she did three days per week whilst at university on a horticulture degree. Family circumstances prevented her from finishing her final year.

Now she wants to complete her degree, and requested a temporary reduction in hours to three days.
Her request was refused without any reason offered, in fact they were quite blunt saying " do five days or nothing"
Are the employers allowed to give such an ultimatum?

[des8]

Re: Employer has refused a request for a temporary reduction in hours.

Hi and welcome
I think the responses you received on MSE pretty well cover the options.