Work hours

When I returned to work I dropped my hours right down, however since I’ve returned to work they are insisting everyone works one late night (until 9 or 10pm) a week. This isn’t actually stated anywhere in any company policies, it’s very vague and says “you may be required to change hours to suit business needs”, does anyone know if I can actually be forced to work a late shift if I can’t get childcare? When I explained to my line manager I didn’t have childcare her response was “well when can he go to nursery?” They have been lenient so far and let me do daytime shifts but now Christmas is over they want me to do the late night.

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Surely they understand that even if he goes to nursery you still won't be able to do a late shift as they usually close 6pm?

With that wording it does mean they can look to change hours. That’s why it’s so vague as it’s a grey area they can then use to change to their own needs. I had it with my old job. In the summer I had to work later. In the winter I finished earlier.

There was a court case on this that found it was sex discrimination to make a single mum work night shift as a tube driver (as women are more likely to be single parents) and she got compensation so I guess they had to change the policy. Whether you can get your company to follow this is another thing though.

@Hattie I did try to explain that to her but it doesn’t seem to have gone in.

@Alex luckily I’m not a single mum, but my sons dad does work lates, again I explained this and his job is the one that pays the bills so if anyone needs to go to work it’s him. The company I work for are quite big and well known so I think any changes to their policies are going g to be extremely hard to get.

@Trudie that’s exactly what I thought, it’s been worded that way so they can get staff to do what they want, most do without argument. It’s just the odd few such as myself that make things difficult for them, I don’t really know what I can do as I really don’t have anyone to look after him any nights of the week.

Give ACAS a call maybe xx

I think they’re within their rights to change it if there’s a need for the business they’ll probably be able to justify it unfortunately 😔

Nursery?? Is your line manager nuts? What nursery is open past 6pm?? Some people are so clueless it's actually maddening. I ended up having to switch jobs completely when I was due back at work due to inflexibility from my previous job. I now work 3 nights a week at a pub and my nee boss is very understanding and flexible about childcare x

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