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Original poster

URGENT - Meeting in an hour - can anybody help with a change of hours

21 replies

Sonnet · 13/11/2008 13:33

Can anybody help please?

I have worked flexibly to pick my chidren uo from school for the last 7.5 yrs and had my salary deducted accordingly.
Can the company I work for now demand i give up my flexible working?
TIA

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 13:37

Bump please

OP posts:
Beckyc2812 · 13/11/2008 13:41

They are changing their minds after over 7 yrs ?? Has anything else happened at wk (new management, boss, company policy) that would have caused them to demand this ? Have you fallen out with anyone ? Their was of getting rid of you maybe ?? I don't know how you stand legally but i'm pretty sure the Government are all for flexiable working hours for parents ...... good luck and keep me posted.

Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 13:43

New boss
Area of work growing at an alamning rate. They want me to do more hours.....

I am happy to do extra days if i must! BUT want to keep early leaving for school run

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 13:47

anyone???

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 13:53

Shameless bump...

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 13/11/2008 13:55

No they can't change your hours without your agreement. See here about changing terms and conditions, what your employer must do, and here about what happens if you don't agree.

Sounds as though you are prepared to compromise slightly which is good, but any changes must be mutually agreed.

stoppinattwo · 13/11/2008 13:59

it does depend upon the childrens ages but it must also be with your agreement....good luck sonnet.

Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 14:00

Thank you so much for responding...
Will read

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 14:03

So basically they can terminate my contract by giving me notice, and offer me a new one

ie take it or leave it

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 13/11/2008 14:04

WHy does it depend on children's ages stoppinattwo? Sonnet is not looking to make a new flexible working request, and in fact the original reason for her current hours is irrelevant - the right to request flexible working for parents was only introduced in 2003.

Sonnet's hours are x and her company (might) want to change them, which they cannot do without her consent.

Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 14:04

My children are 11 and 7 - so no under 6's

I will compromise in coming in extra but so want/need to pick my children up from school next door to where i work....

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 13/11/2008 14:05

They can, but you could then claim unfair dismissal. Is there a very good business reason for requesting you increase your hours? If there isn't they would lose an unfair dismissal claim.

Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 14:06

Hmm - I have been working flexibly since 2001
I do over my agreed hours every week and do a good job
They want to give me a bigger role - feel they will press me heavily to accept it, they will play hard ball as so far they have done that!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 14:06

Hmm - I have been working flexibly since 2001
I do over my agreed hours every week and do a good job
They want to give me a bigger role - feel they will press me heavily to accept it, they will play hard ball as so far they have done that!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 14:08

The good reason could be that the area I work within - small team - has grown considerably and is set to grow more - they need resource and I gather want to do it the chepest way possible by asking me to work more hours and not employing somebody else

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PavlovtheCat · 13/11/2008 14:08

It is my understanding that once the change has been implemented, it becomes a legal part of your contract, and neither you or your employer can change that without the agreement of the other.

It is my understanding that with a child under 6 you can ask for the reduction under flexible working, but that once applied it becomes contractual. That means you can ask for it to be changed again under flexible working agreement, after 1 year, if child is under 6. Once child is over 6, then you are not able to use this agreement to change it back, as it is contractual now and therefore a legal part of your conditions of employment. I am pretty certain this also means your employers cannot change it either.

Does that make sense?

Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 14:09

Gotta go - wish me luck!

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PavlovtheCat · 13/11/2008 14:12

Surely, whether the hours are 'flexible working' or not, if they have been implimented for this amount of time they are contractual now?

I know for example that I have an informal agreement (but written in email) to work from home from time to time. A new manager tried to revoke this, but as there was no good reason to overule the original agreement it had to stand, as although informal, it was applied and was happening with approval of a manager, therefore has become part of my contract (according to my union rep anyway )

Original poster
Sonnet · 13/11/2008 16:02

Thank-you all

I am working an extra day but have kept my flexibility re Early leaving - so a compromise but one I needed to make
Thanks again for your advice

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 14/11/2008 10:40

glad it worked out ok

Beckyc2812 · 14/11/2008 20:30

Really pleased it worked out ok :-)

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