Can my employer change my working hours?

[Karlap]

I currently work as a tutor in a prison and have decided to go non-prisoner facing after having some issues within my classroom. I'm being relocated tomorrow to an office admin role yet these roles work different and less favourable hours. Are they allowed to change my working hours?

I was under the impression that if they do a risk assessment and can't manage the risk to you being pregnant they have to provide a different role or you stay home with full pay.

Have you had a risk assessment? The way you said you have 'decided' to be office based makes me think you have just requested it.

What does your contract say?

Yes I have had a risk assessment and it was my decision to go non-prisoner facing due to safety issues which they were unable to prevent. This is within my risk assessment.

I just wanted to know whether anyone knew whether they were able to change my hours since they cannot change my pay etc.

It just says 37.5 hours

Yes they can, as long as they don’t go outside of your overall contracted working hours. This is a temporary change to accommodate something you have requested.

It sounds like you’re changing jobs completely. Instead of being a teacher you’re becoming an administrator. It seems logical that they might work different hours as standard. Presumably you knew about the different hours before you requested the transfer?

No I emailed my manager Friday to ask about any change of hours and he did not respond. I found out about the move Friday and it's happening tomorrow.
The office hours are 8.30-4.30 Monday to Friday.
My hours at 8-5 and 8-1.45 Fridays.

Yes they can change your hours unfortunately OP. I used to work in forensics and pregnant women were automatically put on a 9-5 back office role, meaning they lost all shift premiums etc. It's shit.

That’s not so objectionable!

Speak to your union. Sounds a bit like discrimination to me but I don’t know about such things.

I think it depends on the risk assessment findings. Are you asking to be moved to non prisoner facing or does the risk assessment indicate that your employer needs to take action?

When I was pregnant working in prisons there were measures in place but I was still working with prisoners. My employer had to avoid risk with reasonable adjustments. If not then they could offer other suitable employment that was not significantly different, however that may have included changing my hours.

The office can't accommodate your current hours if it is not open before 8.30 or after 4.30, therefore the employer could expect you to work those hours on a Friday afternoon, particularly if the move is at your own request.

Countrylifeornot that seems very unfair

Sounds a bit like discrimination to me but I don’t know about such things.

I do know about such things.

It’s not.

Are you choosing to move roles or are they, as a result of risk assessment, telling you that you can no longer carry out your current role?

It really depends what your contract says. Can you dig it out and post it? We may be able to help more then.

May not just be the contract that’s relevant. Any maternity policy would apply as well.

New role - new hours. Thats not unreasonable.

Im a nurse. Im not allowed to work long shifts (13hrs) or night shifts.

Its all about how your employer chooses to mitigate the risk.