Can my new boss revoke a previously written agreement by his predecessor?

[Dustmotes]

Without being too outing, I have an exam for a qualification work have paid for in a couple of months. My very new boss has decided the agreed study/revision time (a week) is too much and wants to reduce it despite my previous boss telling me to request the leave and then agreeing in writing.

Can they do this? I've got a meeting this week and I think he's going to try and force the matter.

You'd need to be able to argue there was a contractual agreement to one week paid study leave. When you say "agreeing in writing" what does it actually say?

My previous boss asked me to let them know how much study leave I would need to feel properly prepared, I emailed a request and they replied with a message along the lines of ' I approve this, please book this in as paid study leave'. Would this be enough?

Possibly. Worth making the argument anyway. Do you have a policy covering study leave?

Unfortunately not! That's my main worry, that they could implement a new policy going forward, which is totally fine but try to cut my leave in line with his new ideas.

It has been approved. So; speak to HR?

Your new boss would need to make a clear business need to rescind it surely.

Grasping at straws here ... but maybe new boss doesn’t want this to be a precedent?

In which case maybe if you make the argument that even if the new policy allows less study leave going forward, surely your 1 week is grandfathered give it’s in writing?

Could point out an easy way for him to give you what was agreed by former boss, while also being able easily to change policy going forward.

Thanks for the advice everyone. There has been a precedent for study leave for exams prior but never set out in a policy, just what was agreed with your line manager, and compared to some staff members I've been quite conservative with what I've requested.
He's already said he's going to speak to our HR team about it and I think they're all in a tizzy because he seems very keen on implementing new policies and has made a few sweeping statements about HR that seems to have got their backs up slightly.
I'll tread lightly but I'm going to be clear and firm about my stance (armed with my emails) and hope for the best.

“Whatever was agreed with a line manager” is not much of a precedent to go on unfortunately. If everybody that has taken this exam has previously been given a week, now that would be a precedent.

Putting proper policy in place seems like an overdue step at your organisation, so I don’t blame the new manager for that, but as said you need to try and influence / argue this so that it is a going forward policy.