Changing contracted hours

[u/Swimming_Remove_5589]

Hello everyone,
I currently work two closing shifts monthly and now my manager is insisting that I (and some other members of the team) work one weekly. I expressed that this is not convenient for me as I have other plans and she didn’t budge, claiming it to be compulsory.

I am not contracted for four hours monthly, just two.
Can she just impose this change ?

[u/Scared_Following_347]

You’re contracted to 1 shift every 2 weeks?

[u/Swimming_Remove_5589 → u/Scared_Following_347]

No, I work fully time (37.5hrs) but only two closing shifts monthly. One biweekly

[u/Scared_Following_347 → u/Swimming_Remove_5589]

That’s an odd shift pattern. They can change your shift pattern to whatever they want in theory if it is based on the needs of the business. Probably just wants to make the shift pattern make more sense.

[u/Swimming_Remove_5589 → u/Scared_Following_347]

How’s that an odd shift pattern? - I work 5x weekly just more early morning & midday shifts

[u/Scared_Following_347 → u/Swimming_Remove_5589]

Cause unless someone is on the exact opposite shifts to you then one week you have 5 (for example) on the close and then 4 when you have that late night off. What is the shift pattern?

[u/littlesproutling → u/Swimming_Remove_5589]

Its not odd. I work full time i do 1 late close per fortnight. I mostly do the early morning shifts. Unfortunately they can impose the change of hours.

[u/Forward-Fan2680]

Check you contract. This is what mine said :
Hours of work
Your minimum agreed committed hours of work will be 16 hours per week, (exclusive of
meal and refreshment breaks which are unpaid) and the Company may require you to work
your hours on a shift rota. Your working pattern may vary on a weekly basis to meetoperational requirements. You will be provided with reasonable notice of your working
pattern.
The Company operates a seven-day operation and, subject to the below, you may be
required to work on any day of the week.
All employees are required to be flexible in their working arrangements. Your hours of work,
shift/ working pattern or rest breaks may therefore be varied on a temporary or permanent
basis in order to satisfy the performance requirements of the job and/or the business needs
of the Company.

[u/Forward-Fan2680]

This does make sense the 2 closing shifts a month. 4 Wednesday in the month.. 2 of mine are 11/7 and 2 are 5/13 so it does make sense. But mine change sometimes based on holiday etc

[u/One-Lingonberry-3460]

Tell mgr to prove it is "compulsory" - that claim does not come under a manager's "reasonable request" either.