Can my employer change my terms and conditions without my agreement?

A contract of employment is a legal agreement between the employer and the employee. Its terms cannot lawfully be changed by the employer without agreement from the employee (either individually or through a recognised trade union). Your employer should not breach equality laws when changing contract terms.

Can an employer make changes to your contract?

A contract of employment is an agreement between you and your employer that outlines the rights and duties of both sides. At some stage your employer or you might want to change your contract of employment. However, neither you or your employer can change your employment contract without each others’ agreement.

Can I refuse redeployment?

When is it reasonable to refuse an offer of suitable alternative employment? An employee who unreasonably refuses an offer of suitable alternative employment loses the right to a statutory redundancy payment.

What is considered suitable alternative employment?

Instead of being made redundant, an employee may be offered another job role with the company, which is classed as suitable alternative employment, if the employee has redundancy rights – been employed with the employer for at least 2 years by the time the job ends.

What is unreasonable refusal of suitable alternative employment?

If an employee unreasonably refuses an offer of suitable alternative employment, they are considered as having been dismissed on grounds of redundancy but lose their entitlement to statutory redundancy pay. It is the employer’s responsibility to show that the employee’s refusal of the new job was ‘unreasonable’.

Can my employer change my contract and reduce my pay UK?

Can a company legally reduce my pay? Your employer cannot reduce your pay without your consent.

Do I have to accept a new contract of employment?

It is up to you as an employer to decide whether a trial period would be reasonable and/or whether it is something you can agree to. If the employee does refuse to accept the changes to their contract and carries on working for you, but you make the changes anyway, this is known as working ‘under protest’.

What is the law on shift changes?

If the employee has fixed hours, the employee must agree to any change before you make it. Failure to get their consent before changing shift patterns at work is likely to end in a alongside a breach in contract. Employees can also request a change to their working pattern. They can request flexible working hours.

Can your employer change your shifts without asking?

The first point to make is that an employer cannot force someone to change shift patterns. This is unreasonable and if your work contract stipulates particular work hours your employer will need your agreement to change them. This will require a new work contract.

What happens if my employer makes a change to my contract?

Where changes are made to your contract, employers must give you written notification of the change within four weeks. An unauthorised, one-sided variation is likely to be a breach of the contract of employment, and the fact that the employer has given you notice of the change will not make it lawful.

When do you have to give notice of a change of contract?

Where changes are made to your contract, employers must give you written notification of the change within four weeks. An unauthorised, one-sided variation is likely to be a breach of the contract of employment, and the fact that the employer has given you notice of the change will not make it lawful.

Can you ask an existing employee to sign a new contract?

Anytime you ask an existing employee to sign a new employment contract, it’s important to proceed cautiously. There are risks and pitfalls that wary employers may wish to avoid when making a change to their employment contracts.

Can my employer change my contract of employment in Ireland?

All employees in Ireland must get a written statement of their terms of employment, including their pay and hours of work. You can usually find this in your contract of employment. Your contract can change if: If you and your employer have agreed to change it. Your employer cannot change your contract without your consent.