Employees need to give you their agreement to changes in their contractual terms. Having a process in place with a policy and procedure will help along with the wording in your contract which may make this process a little easier, such as: a flexibility clause or mobility clause. You can reach this agreement with your staff informally.
All it takes is a chat about why and any preferred hours they’d like to work. At times communication which is transparent and inclusive does make a difference to staff and their judgement.
If you’re both happy with the new hours, type up an official letter (Contractual Change Agreement) that details the changes, and ask your worker to sign it to make the agreement official.
But if you can’t reach an informal agreement, you’ll need to follow proper procedures such as inviting staff to meetings and consulting with representatives to find a compromise. Failure to follow proper procedures risks a costly breach of contract claim.
Even if your contracts do let you alter people’s hours, always discuss any changes with your staff first. If you surprise someone with a new shift that affects their personal plans (such as childcare duties), you risk ruining their morale, losing them as an employee, or facing an employment tribunal claim as it may open a door to a breach in the Work and Families Act (NI) 2015 and a possible risk of a Disability Discrimination claim under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Yorumlar