Working part time - can I be forced to change my working days?

[OctoberSunday]

I’ve been at the company around 15 years and dropped to 3 days a week when I had our son 10 years ago. Good relationships with all staff within the company. Due to other staff movements they have asked me to change my working days slightly. My working days are stated in my contract, which states they ‘may be varied by mutual consent’. What they have asked of me is logistically difficult and will mean me attempting to change some arrangements/commitments I have on my current non-working days. Can they force me to change my days?

Well it doesn’t sound mutual, so no.

No, but if it might make your work life more difficult in future to stick with your current days would it be worth considering? I was in this position years ago and reluctantly agreed to change, the other commitments sorted themselves out and my work life got a lot easier from being in on the days that worked best for the whole team. Flexible working arrangements work best with a bit of give and take on both sides IME. Does depend on the importance/inflexibiity of your other commitments though.

If it's mutual consent then no. I was asked to change my Monday off to a Tuesday to accommodate a colleague's childcare issues but said no as I wanted 3 days off together. I said I had fixed commitments (I did have commitments but they could have been changed) so I didn't look quite so selfish. Colleague easily sorted her childcare ( turned out she just wanted a 3 day break too)
Don't let yourself be guilt tripped into it. Just be firm about your commitments and let them them sort it out some other way.

They can’t force you but if it’s causing issues at work i would do it. It’s not going to look very cooperative or committed. When you say arrangements/commitments it doesn’t sound like anything massive. I’m always surprised by how uncooperative most people are with their managers, I’d keep them onside if I were you. It’s highly likely you’ll need a favour/flexibility/support one day in the future and a good idea to have banked a favour first. You’ll be glad of it when it comes to the crunch.

If it says mutual consent, then no because it isn't mutual.

I also work 3 days and I'm very happy with the 3 I work, so I wouldn't change.

Yes they can with notice. You can refuse & they can take you through a consultation period. If you drag it out as long as you can, (and I remember right) it's about 12 weeks before they can force the change. Can always get advice from acas but yes contracts can be changed.

PP is correct there needs to be a consultation period but after that the employer can force the change.

Thanks all, bumping.

My suggestion would be to offer an alternative proposal to suit both. I had a similar situation & meeting In the middle was the best option. Much less stressful also than going through procedures for a forced change.

Workers rights in the UK are unfortunately pretty shit