They want me to change my hours

[purpleme12]

I came back from maternity years ago put in flexible working request, agreed the hours and that's that.

Now they're saying they want me to with another day and it's not working. (I think it is working they just want me to with more hours because of course they would so they're just making out it's not working).
Can they make me do this?

Simple answer yes if they have a good enough business justification, they need to consult with you though and see why you oppose the change

What if I say no in the end?

If they want to make a change to your terms and conditions (eg days/ hours of work) they should consult with you to try and reach a mutually acceptable arrangement.

If a mutually acceptable solution cannot be reached your employer could choose to dismiss you and offer to reengage you on new terms and conditions (working days/ hours).

I just don't want to change them at all

They would dismiss you with notice and offer you the new contract, if you accept it you would move to those ts and cs if not you are out of a job not much of a choice now is it

Any flexible working applications are approved subject to business need and need to be reviewed regularly. They have obviously reviewed it and it no longer fits with what the business can accommodate. They are trying to engage in a discussion about it with you to agree a new way forward - you need to engage back.
Just saying you don’t want to change, full stop, is not really acceptable and does not reflect well on you.
PP set out options going forward already.

I don’t think you have a choice really. As much as everyone bangs on about flexible working and accommodating workers rights etc the truth is there are so many people wanting jobs they’ll just get rid of you and get someone else. They can just say the needs of the business have changed and xxxx are the hours that they need doing.

Have they said why they want the change?

Eg if you are working 21hours a week and the workload that needs doing is really 28 hours worth then it is obviously the best solution for you to up your hours. It's not worth their while to employ a different person for 7 hours a week and doesn't suit business needs to have a quarter of the workload given to someone else. If it's a situation like that then they would have every right and justification to make you redundant of you refuse to budge. This would be entirely legitimate as the 21 hr/w job no longer exists. There would be a different 28 hr/w job advertised and they would recruit someone willing to do the job that needs doing.

We have pretty good employment rights but they do not extend to forcing employers to accept terms which don't suit business needs.

What if I say no in the end

You will he dismissed but with notice which should be set out in your contract.

Is your job one where it's relatively easy to find a different one that does suit you?

”Any flexible working applications are approved subject to business need and need to be reviewed regularly.”

That is completely wrong. Flexible working requests result in a permanent change to terms and conditions. The fact the OP’s working hours were originally the result of a flexible working request is completely irrelevant - it is no easier to change her hours than it is to change someone else’s.

OP whether they can force it through depends on whether they have a good business reason for doing so. They need to consult, seek your agreement, explain their reasons, look for compromises, but then if they have a genuine business need, they could terminate and re-engage you on new terms.

It boils down to how good their reason is really.