contracted working hours?

[Phillpot12]

I have taken on additional hours but have had no written change to contract, covering long term sickness. Am I entitled to maintain these new hours for the future as I will have been working these hours for 6+ months or is my employer entitled to just revert to my previous hours when they see fit? Any ideas?

What was the agreement/discussion when you took the extra hours on? Was it on a permanent basis or subject to review, or temporary, what?

Am I entitled to maintain these new hours for the future as I will have been working these hours for 6+ months or is my employer entitled to just revert to my previous hours when they see fit?

If their request was clearly specified as needing you to cover the sickness absence, they would likely argue that it was not a contractual arrangement (otherwise they would have made an amendment to your contract), it was a temporary arrangement for a specific purpose, that you were content to accept on that basis.

If I were you, I wouldn't leave it open-ended, if having the new longer hours is important to you. I would ask them specifically what they intend you to do after the person you are covering for returns to work, and whether they need you to continue with the longer hours. It gives you both the opportunity to openly discuss the matter rather than leaving it open-ended and vague, and then getting into the awkward discussion later.