My employer changed my contract without my consent!

[CaroKershaw]

I had postnatal depression after having my son in 2015, and after my maternity leave was all used up, I requested a meeting to discuss returning to work gradually. I met with my line manager and the boss and asked to be able to return to work gradually, starting at 2 or 3 days a week and working up to going back to my full time role. They agreed to try this for 3 months and then review it to see if it was working for evryone.

Today I requested to increase my hours and I have been told that my contract is now only for 2 days a week and they dont have the budget to increase my hours. They said I have been granted flexible working which has permanently altered my contract.

I never agreed to changing my contract permanently. I never saw or signed a new contract. None of this has been put in writing at all. They appear to have misunderstood what I was asking and now it seems to my my word against theirs.

What are my rights?

Hi,

I work in HR - once your request to flexible working was granted you should have received a contract variation of some kind for it to be legal; you must have some form of email communication, as well as a signed contract change, which you should bring to your employer immediately; and you are entitled to your former hours if you haven't signed such a contract. You have protected rights as both a mother & returning from maternity.
Speak to your HR department if you have one - or get free impartial advice from ACAS!

I'm a junior doctor and this has happened to me too. (Not helpful)