Employee Benefit - help!

[HandyGirl76]

Can anyone advise on this?

I gave up a very well paid city job to take a local job on the basis of a large discount provided as a benefit by my new employer. The benefit is not in my contract but is in the employee handbook and I accepted the job on the basis of this discount, as outlined in various emails during the negotiations.

My employer is now thinking of removing this benefit and/ or means testing it. I would not be eligible if it were means-tested but feel angry that I gave up a significantly better paid job on the basis that I would be eligible.

I've been employed by them for two years.

Are they allowed to do this?

Thank you

It depends on whether this part of the employee handbook is contractual. If it is, they need your consent for any change. If it is not, they are free to make any changes they want.

Most employers intend their handbook to be entirely non-contractual. However, sometimes it (or parts of it) can be contractual despite the employer's intentions, depending on its wording. If your employer specifically states that the handbook (or at least, this part of it) is non-contractual, it is indeed non-contractual. If there is no specific statement, you would need advice from a lawyer who specialises in employment law to determine whether it is contractual.