Can they make me work full time although I am contraced part time.

[Andie72]

Hi, Hope someone can help me I currently work for 20 hours a week on contract and job share with someone else. However, the other working partner has now left and they are now trying to make me cover full time until they appoint someone else which I do not want to do as I have 2 children to look after. Does anyone know if they can make me work another additional 20 hours a week as they seem to be making my life unbearable with pressure to work I have said that I would work 3 days 24 hours until they appoint someone else but I am not prepared to do anymore.

Am I in my legal right to refuse to work these extra hours when I am only contracted to 20 hours. I have always covered the other working partners holiday or sickness. Can they now force me to work the additional hours.

Many thanks really need some help

Normally no, but often with job shares there is something in the contract saying that in the event of the job share person resigning, the employer can increase hours until recruitment of a new job share partner, or similar. Is there anything like that in your contract or job share agreement?

No there is not only to cover holiday and sickness, so hopefully I should be alright, do you think.

Thanks

Sounds as though you should be fine refusing, yes - changes to your contract can't usually be made without your consent and it sounds reasonable of you to refuse to increase your hours substantially. Hopefully if you don't work the hours they want they might be a bit quicker finding a replacement for your job share partner as well.