I Want To Reduce My Hours At Work. What Are My Rights?

[JustJenni]

Hi all I'm hoping you can help me with something I'm not to sure on? I currently work 30 hours a week and in September ill be going back to college for 3 days a week and I want to reduce my contract to between 12-16 hours. I've spoken to my manager and they have said to me that the hours may not be there to employ me when September starts. Currently we have 13 staff members and out area manager had said alot of us are on to high a contract so we aren't aloud to employ anyone else until some other staff leave. Which makes perfect sense some days the store floor is really light on staff as we aren't aloud to spend on overtime. So surely me reducing my contract would free up some much needed hours. I'm really worried that once September comes around my manager will tell me she can't employ me anymore? Surely this can't be correct? I've been in the company for 4 years and continuously get great feedback from customers and have gone to lots of recognition days for it. Surely they wouldn't want to lose me ( I hope that doesn't sound big headed)
If anyone could please shed any light on this I'd be really grateful.

[woofgang]

It's simple, provided your contract doesn't say different, you ask to reduce your hours and the employers can say no....sorry that's the way it is.

[AlwaysConfused]

Put your intentions in writing with the expected date that you need to reduce your hours. My employer demands 12 weeks notice for such a change (unless it is for urgent reasons, then they wold be more understanding). Likewise, I would demand 12 weeks notice if my employer needed to adjust my contract.

[factor-fiction]

It'll do no harm to set out the benefits to the company too (reduced costs, but they will still have your skills which you should set out).

But maybe they see redundances coming and will look for any opportunity to reduce hours as much as possible, so will prefer that you leave altogether

[JustJenni]

There are no redundancies coming soon that I am sure of. I see it as if I'm reducing my hours that frees up some payroll and gives them more opportunity to employ a few smaller contract and the would help with costs and staffing. I'm abit worried that my manager will use me going back to college to get me out of the business. I wondered if speaking to my area manager would help? As they are a very practical person and would see to benefits to the business with keeping me in it but at reduced hours

[factor-fiction]

Yes, you need to persuade them at work. But going over your manager's head to the area manager may not make you popular.
I am sure you are an asset but if your manager really does want to 'get you out of the business' then you have an uphill battle. If he wants to retain you he will. If he doesn't then your bargaining position may not be a strong one.
Good luck

[buildersmate]

Yup, good answer from Factor - don't recommend going over your direct line manager's head until all other avenues there are exhausted.

It may seem entirely logical to you, but it is your employer you are going to have to convince. With very few exceptions (returning to work after childbirth being one) an employee doesn't have to right to reduce his/her hours.

Not clear why you gave a best answer to alwaysconfude's answer - amybe its what you wanted to hear. That answer is clearly relevant to that poster's company but it has no relevance in law - you and your employer could agree it at one day's notice if push came to shove.

Yes, I'm a former senior HR manager, amongst other things, in my career.

[JustJenni]

I don't want to go over my managers head but I'm so worried, I can't afford to go to college and not work, I have to pay for the course and I have savings but not enough to support myself for that long. Think ill have to bite the bullet and have a proper meeting about it with them soon. It's just something that is such an uneasy subject. Thanks for the help factor fiction.

[DJHawkes]

to be honest, if you are in retail september is the worst time for reducing your hours, students are going back to full time college/uni and the christmas season planning is due to start.

[just_George]

Write a letter to manager directly above you giving the reason you need change and the amount of hours you wish to have also for how long, state in the letter your record for absence,sickness,lateness. In the last paragraph ask for a written reply within 21 days for eg, say that if this request can't be met could they please state the reasons why. Keep a copy for yourself. Once you have the reply if you feel it is unfair you may go above them. Have you considered job share? there maybe someone at your your place who is looking to reduce their hours too

[JustJenni]

I know its the worst time to reduce my hours, but i'm looking at it in the long run of things retail isnt where i want to be and the course ill be doing gives me the opportunities to get away from it. Before today i was pretty hopeful everything would be fine, we are a small close knit team and we all have contact outside of work and i understand that management have to try and get away from that for obvious reasons its just today an old staff member came in and wanted to come back into a job role she left but wasnt able to and my manager made a comment of if i had the hours id give her full time right now, and it got me thinking if shes still around come september is this whats going to happen, leaving me with no job and someone else to slot right into my role.
Thank you buildersmate getting a HR persons view is really helpful.
It just seems so unfair that you put all your effort and hard work into 4 years with a company and as soon as you need abit of slack they dont want to give you the benefit of the doubt.
As ill be paying for my course its not an option to find a part time one for the time being as i need to save as much as i can just incase things dont turn out for the best