Can my manager change my hours on Christmas eve

[BeautifulDecay]

I work PT 3.30 - 7.30pm

On christmas eve my office shuts at 5.30 PM so unable to work my shift. We have been told we have to change our hours to 10 - 2.I said I couldn't change my hours as my DH doesn't finish till 2pm and I need to look after dd, we have no other childcare

My manager said I would have to use a days leave, I said I didn't know if I had any leave left and she said if I didn't I would have to work 2pm -6pm.

I don't want to work these hours as I want to be home with my dd on Christmas eve evening.

I know in our contract there is some sort of cavet which says we have to meet the needs of the business over Christmas asits our busiet time, does this mean I haven't got a leg to stand on.

I'm thinking about going sick but will I get in trouble as my manager knows I don't want to work that shift.

Advice needed and gratefully recieved

They can do it as far as I know. I'm in the same position for New Years Eve and New Years Day (although I'm trying to get NYD off) Work, or take AL. I have the added joy that working in retail means that somebody has to work when the store's open, so getting leave isn't always easy.

It's rubbish isn't it serrentity. Can't believe I have to waste a days leave on Christmas eve.

how awful for you

I'm not sure I totally understand your post.

You say you cannot work your hours because work is shut, so your manager has offered you 2 - 6, which you don't want to do because you want to spend Christmas eve at home. However your normal hours you would have been out of the house 3.30 - 7.30 so you would still wouldn't have been at home.

If you don't want to work then it is only fair to take it as leave or make up the hours, otherwise it would be unfair on those people who work earlier in the day.

If you cannot get into work until 3.30 then why not offer to work from then until work closes and if necessary offer to make the time up another day.
MLx

They've offered you an alternative, or a days leave, what's your problem?

I think you must have made a mistake in your post - did you mean they wanted you to work 10-2 Christmas Eve?

if not you are just working your normal shift - but you said they shut at 5?

well what did you think would happen for christmas eve? that you just wouldn't have to work it? why didn't you book it off ages ago if that was an option?

can you go in at 3pm, leaving at 5pm and take 1/2 a day instead?

I agree with Morley, surely the alternative shift pattern they have offered you will mean that you get to spend more of the evening with dd.

Whether they can do this or not depends on the clause regarding working hours in your contract. Does it state that they are subject to change dependent on the needs of the business? Or are your existing hours set in stone? If it states that they are 3.30 - 7.30pm without a clause stipulating change they cannot change them without consulting with you first and going through quite a drawn out process and they aren't going to bother doing this for the sake of one day.

ask your do to take a day off instead or ask a mate to mind your dd for a couple of hours and work 10 - 2?