To think they can't just change my agreed hours now

[ER1992]

I am due to go back to work in 2 weeks after a year on maternity. I was previously working 40 hours per week Monday to Friday. But will be reducing to 16 hours - 2 days a week which are the days I have fixed child care. This was all agreed with my manager 6 months ago (a lot earlier than it need to be done by but I wanted to know it was sorted). I have it all agreed in writing and the acceptance from HR who have also agreed to the new hours.

However, since this has all been agreed two people have handed there notice in and left, leaving staff shortages on certain days of the week. I'm now being made to feel guilty about working the 2 days I've already agreed and have been told I may have to change the days. This isn't doable as I won't have child care for the days they are now wanting me to work so would mean I will have to hand my notice in and be left jobless.

Can the company legally change my new hours after already agreeing to them?

I understand what @Lowlandlucky say. he’s not disputing that it’s a legal right and as a parent we are very fortunate that this country allows us to take so long off after having a baby. But it’s a bit of give and take in this situation. I imagine @Lowlandlucky was the owner of a small business and whilst he cannot dispute maternity leave I imagine it was a bloody pain in the arse for them as a small company, all that paid time off and holiday we get when we don’t work would put a financial strain on any small independent company. But anyway OP that’s not your problem and you do have rights, just see how your contract is worded. You can always ring citizens advice or if you are part of a union ring and ask them, they are very good! And if your not look at joining one they are only a couple of pound a month!

They haven't bent over backwards for me at all. They've given me statutory maternity which is a legal requirement, I do not get any benefits such as company maternity pay. They also had the opportunity to say to me "sorry we can't meet your needs so we no longer have a position here for you" or in my 'back to work meetings', I've worked my child care around the days that THEY originally told me was best for the company to work which they are now changing their minds on after having a new contract and written confirmation of my new hours and days. There is nothing in my information that is is a trial period either. It is not small business I work for. It is a very large company well known across the UK and as my husband says 'I'm just a number'

They can’t “just” change them, no. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to change them.

Hours agreed as part of a flexible working request are permanent, which means it’s no easier to change them than it is for anyone else. However it is also no harder to change them. If there is genuine business reason why it is necessary, there are ways to force it through. If staff have left, they should attempt to recruit to cover the gaps though first,

I have seen this happen, worked for a large retailer who decided to restructure the shift pattern and change everyone's Ts and Cs.

Those who didn't consent including mothers on flex working hours were (after a consultation period) dismissed from the old terms and offered re engagement on the new. Those who didn't accept were out of a job. Call me Satan if you like, if wasnt my decision to do this it was taken af a very senior level in the business (a national chain) and I was merely an implementer.

@cloudscansleep I get that, and we've had this happen before when we started opening saturday every member of staff recieved a letter and a consultation. However in this situation this isn't what is happing and nobody else seems to have been asked to change there days

Ok well in that case don’t do anything at the moment. Proceed as though you are starting back on your break new hours in two weeks’ time. If anyone approaches you informally asking you to change, say “no sorry I’m not able to change”. If anyone says you have to change, say “no those are my agreed contractual hours and I can’t change them.

They haven’t got time to start consultation/formal process to change them properly two weeks out.