Change Of Working Hours

[cjh2]

I have worked as a welder for 10 years, current hours are 7am till 4pm and Friday 7am till 12pm. We have been informed by our employers that they want to introduce shift work and my hours will be 2pm till 10pm. My contract says that "the company reserves the right to make reasonable amendments to your statement of particulars of employment. Any changes or amendments to the terms of your employment will be confirmed to you in writing within one month of them taking effect". Does this mean I have to accept the changes to hours without the 90 days consultation? To me this clause gives the employer carte blanche to change anything they like. Does statutory law overwrite this clause?

[bert_h]

Check with your vlocal Citizens' Advice Bureau. I'm pretty sure that no employment tribunal would agree this was a 'reasonable' change, and you must be offered statutory redundancy as an alternative.

[Canary42]

That's what Trade Unions were for - before Maggie emasculated them. You won't find Law any help.

[buildersmate]

Not clear where you think 90 days comes from - you may be confusing it with the requirement for min. 90 days consultation occurs before >100 redundancies are likely to be declared. This is nought to do with that.

Irrespective of what your contract says (one month) I reckon that on a change like this, the employer has to give you at least your statutory notice period - and that for you is 10 weeks notice (one week per full year of employment).

However as it is a fundamental shift, there should be meaningful consultation going on, on an individual basis. Say, for example, your life revolves around doing something in the earlier evenings, they should take that into account before imposing such a change on you. Doesn't mean it can't happen. The test, of course, of whether they've done this fairly would be at Employment Tribunal, though that's no help to you.

It seems a pity that Canary42 bothers to utter an answer, as he seemingly knows nothing about employment law.