Flexi working question -can they change working pattern?

[omydarlin]

Hiya after i cam back from Mat leave 5 years agao i reduced my hours via company flexiworking policy 9 as was my stat right) I am still part tiime albeit I have increased my post hours my question is about the actual timing of those hours. Due to them taking on a new member of staff (who also works flexibly but on FT hours) our office wasnt covered by our department for an extra half hour on a Tues afternoon and a Weds afternoon . To be helpful (one of the other full timers didnt want to change her start time - she has cats and a husband to pick up from work) I offered to change my start time so I leave at 5pm.

However just got a Meo saying thanks for offering blah blah been accepted

"I will continue to review staff cover as necessary to ensure adequate cover is maintained across the department"

I no this is probably an innocuous statement but I was under the impression that unless I agreed to a change my working pattern I was protected by the flexible working policy. I am just worried if something happens ie someone leaves and im stuck having to change my hours to suit the department and ensure cover which could have drastic consequences re: childcare arrangements etc

Please help??

Its came and memo - sorry im in such a rush with this as im on my break!

It's not the flexible working policy that protects you as such, it's the same rules that protect everyone from having their terms and conditions changed.

Once you agree a flexible working arrangement it becomes a permanent change to your terms and conditions, so is no easier for your employer to change than it is for them to change anyone else's hours.

If the flexible working request was 5 years ago and you've changed your hours again since then, it really isn't relevant anyway. Your hours are what they are, same as anyone else's, so you can refuse to change them if you don't want to do so.

Thanks Flowerybeanbag!! when you say hours do you mean an increase/decrease in hours or my working pattern. Its my working pattern I want to protect. I just heard that they told the fulltimer (with cat) that she is forced to change her pattern on a Wednesday to ensure office cover.

I agree with you in that ft/pt there becomes a point when your working pattern/hours become contractual

Either. Anything that is contractual can't be changed (or not easily) without your consent. Sounds like you have just changed your working pattern but do have it confirmed in writing, so that would be contractual. If you didn't have written confirmation, it would become contractual after a period of consistently working the new pattern.

Changing your working pattern would be just as easy/hard as changing anyone elses. Being flexi isn't directly relevant.

They do have the right to ensure that the department is run with sufficient cover and may even need to change people's hours, but just like a full timer there would need to be consultation, it's quite hard to do if you refuse, etc. They also couldn't single you out as the one to make the changes just because you are flexi.