Start with your contract

Your contract, and any award or agreement that covers your job, sets your hours. Look for the number of hours, the days you work and any clause about changing them.

Some contracts allow reasonable changes with notice, for example moving a shift within the same number of hours. Very few allow your employer to cut your hours or your pay without your agreement. Where the contract says nothing, the hours you have actually worked for a long time can count too.

If you’re asked to agree

You don’t have to answer on the spot. Ask for the change in writing, the reason behind it, how long it will last, and what happens to your pay and leave.

Take time to think and, if you can, get advice. Carrying on without saying anything can count as agreeing, so if you object, say so in writing and keep a copy.

You can also suggest something else: a trial period, a later start date, or a change to only some of your hours. Many employers will agree to something that works for both sides.

If it happens anyway

A big change made without your agreement can amount to a dismissal, even if you’re still at work. It may also be a breach of contract that lets you claim the pay you lost.

Strict time limits can apply, sometimes only a few weeks from the change. Write down the dates now: when you were told, when the new hours started, and what you said.

Asking for different hours yourself

If you’re the one asking for different hours, for example to care for a child or a parent, you may have a right to ask and to receive a written answer with reasons. Make the request in writing, say what you need and why, and suggest how the work could still be covered.

What we’ll do

Send us your contract and anything in writing about the change. We’ll read them and tell you where you stand, with every deadline on one page.

If you call before midday, we call back the same day. If talking to your employer is the best next step, we can draft the letter for you to send, or send it ourselves.

This note is general information, not legal advice for your situation.