Being asked to reduced hours

[LindzDelirium]

I work for a small business ( 3 employees) and we are struggling in current climate. I have volunteered to reduce my hours by half but now my boss wants my colleague to also reduce her hours by half, is this legal? (He says it's temporary)

I don't know if its legal but in the current climate it may well be a case of reduced hours or no job at all - I work for a small company (less than 10 employees), even smaller following redundancies last week. Its a worrying time.

I run a small business, so have had to look at the rules for changing employment contracts in the past (which is effectively what this is). My understanding is that its perfectly legal for him to 'ask' her. She can then say yes or no. If she says no, then they can't force her to accept the change, and they can't hold the refusal against her (ie. if there was a choice of people to make redundant, they would have to justify who on economic grounds not just 'she wouldn't agree to change contract so now we're getting rid of her') This goes for any negative change in employment contract: holiday reduction, pay cut, hours cut...

Obviously if the boss explains that they might be able to avoid redundancies altogether by her taking the hours cut, then she has to think seriously about accepting it! Is half a more secure job better than a whole job for a short time? Only she can answer that one!

What ditzzy said. It's perfectly legal for him to ask. It's also fine for her to refuse. But in this type of situation it is likely to be a case of reduced hours preventing redundancies so she is probably best to agree if possible.