In thinking my work cannot do this?

[apricotdreams]

Hi everyone
Is there anyone who knows about employment laws?
I have worked for my company for 20 years. I work three days a week in an admin role and have a signed contract.

The company are struggling financially due to the pandemic but also bad business decisions. I was told this week that they are going to reduce my hours to two days per week for at least three months starting November to save money. I am a low earner in a company that pays some very high salaries. I will loose 400 a month. That's pennies to them but is a financial disaster for me.

Can they just do this? There is nothing in my contract to say that they can. I have a meeting to discuss it later this week. Should I say I cannot accept it? Could they then get rid of me? I am so worried.
Any advice much appreciated

Phew, very pleased for you.

Better cost saving to reduce hours of those higher paid than you!

Great outcome, OP. I'm glad it worked out for you.

My Mums boss tried to do the exact same thing to her and she didn’t even have a written contract. I took her to citizens advice and they said a verbal contract is binding and as long as she could prove with wage slips that she had done set hours every month then they could not just reduce them without her consent. She was advised to draft them a letter outlining that she had sought legal advice and that she had been advised they could not do this. In the end she kept her hours.

I believe if a role is made redundant it cannot be re-advertised for a couple of years so redundancy is only a possibility if your role could truly be made redundant. My Mum was fortunate that she was needed and without her at all they would have to re-advertise her role.

This was pre-covid though and a lot has changed to help companies cope.

I’d definitely speak to Citizens Advice / ACAS.

Just seen your update. Glad it worked out.

Great update Op - well done for standing up for yourself!