Boss is unilaterally changing working hours, what to do?

Big dilemma here at the moment, boss announced at meeting that the working hours for one grade was to change from 9 to 5 with an hour for lunch Mon to Fri to a 39 hour week with no paid lunch and that employees were to work in the extra 4 hours with no additional pay or anything. Can this be right? Not the same for everyone either, just one grade of staff. Big panics on, lots of people travelling 2 to 3 hours a day already doing the usual juggling of childminders etc and devistated at this sudden announcement.

Re: Boss is unilateraly changing working hours, what to do?

Is there a Union in the organisation. What does the contract of employment say in relation to hours worked. Employers should not change the terms of employment but nothing surprises me any more. He/she may be chancing his arm seeing what he can get by with stand your ground. He'll / she'll probably try it with another grade next year if noone stands up to him/her now.

Anything here or here

Re: Boss is unilateraly changing working hours, what to do?

There is a general principle of employment law that states that he can't make such changes unilaterally, though it can be difficult to make this happen in practice. If you're in a union, call them in. If not, consider joining one. If not, contact the Dept of Enterprise Employee Rights section.

You'll need to know if he is changing terms that are written down in your contract.

Re: Boss is unilateraly changing working hours, what to do?

Thanks guys, we finially got through to our Union Rep this am and are meeting him tomorrow, wish us luck.

Re: Boss is unilateraly changing working hours, what to do?

Let us know how you get on.

Re: Boss is unilateraly changing working hours, what to do?

Do not know which Union you are a member of, but unless your manager can give a good reason for changing working hours for a small group, without even the courtesy of notice , he will be slaughtered.

If this went to Labour Relations Commission / Courts , you would spank them !!!


Again, keep us up to date with your issue, and I would,nt worry, I believe this will be overturned.

Re: Boss is unilateraly changing working hours, what to do?

I'm constantly amazed at how badly some companies are run.
Is there no communication between this guy/gal and the people who work for him/her?
What size is the organisation?

Re: Boss is unilateraly changing working hours, what to do?

i'm not sure of all the ins and outs, but i think that working conditions which have been in place for a year cannot be changed without due process. for example i have a friend who worked from about 11am till 7pm, despite the fact that the company hours were the usual 9-5. after one year the company had no right to force him to adopt the 9-5 schedule as his work timetable had been accepted for the previous year. eventually his boss stopped hassling him and he continued in that company for another four years. happy days

hope it works out for you guys