Reducing employee hours

[james2004]

Hi
We have a part-time IT employee who works 30 hours, as we have had a new IT system we really don't need that many hours, he has requested to reduce to 26 hours anyway, but we only really need 18-20 hours. He has been with the business for 5 years and I'm unsure if I state we only need 20 hours he may claim for redundancy (that's what I have been told his right is).

am I getting in a world of trouble if I just amend his hours? we have another employee in a similar job who is working full-time hours and want to keep that. They cant really job share.

any advice?

 

[Newchodge]

Hi
We have a part-time IT employee who works 30 hours, as we have had a new IT system we really don't need that many hours, he has requested to reduce to 26 hours anyway, but we only really need 18-20 hours. He has been with the business for 5 years and I'm unsure if I state we only need 20 hours he may claim for redundancy (that's what I have been told his right is).

am I getting in a world of trouble if I just amend his hours? we have another employee in a similar job who is working full-time hours and want to keep that. They cant really job share.

any advice?

You cannot reduce his hours without his agreement unless you dismiss him and offer him a contyract with the new hours. That will almost certainly lead to an unfair dismissal claim that would probably succeed.

If you have 2 employees doing very similar work and you reduce the hours or make redundant only the part time worker you risk a claim for subjecting a part time employee to less favourable treatment than a full time worker.

 

[intheTRADE]

Surely 5 years of loyalty shown by the employee working for and helping your company deserves their agreement to reduced hours and their request to be met at 26 hours (only 6 more than you are saying) to be met by you. Just on a moral ground

 

[UKSBD]

Hi
We have a part-time IT employee who works 30 hours, as we have had a new IT system we really don't need that many hours, he has requested to reduce to 26 hours anyway, but we only really need 18-20 hours. He has been with the business for 5 years and I'm unsure if I state we only need 20 hours he may claim for redundancy (that's what I have been told his right is).

am I getting in a world of trouble if I just amend his hours? we have another employee in a similar job who is working full-time hours and want to keep that. They cant really job share.

any advice?

Negotiate.

He is contracted to work 30 hours, wants to work 26 you want him to work 20

If you want to keep him on, better if he feels happy with hours working than not.

Don't give him the ultimatum of 20 hours, tell him 16 would pre preferably then see if you meet in the middle.

Edit to add: The key is to make him think you are doing him a favour by allowing him to reduce his hours

 

[lesliedocherty]

Chances are if he wants to reduce to 26 hrs, he might be happy going to 20 anyway, people's circumstances change, and having a flexible job in these times can be a good thing.

 

[lesliedocherty]

Surely 5 years of loyalty shown by the employee working for and helping your company deserves their agreement to reduced hours and their request to be met at 26 hours (only 6 more than you are saying) to be met by you. Just on a moral ground

No, there is no loyalty anymore, chances are the employee is looking for another job, maybe not.

 

[intheTRADE]

No, there is no loyalty anymore, chances are the employee is looking for another job, maybe not.

You can't possibly know they are looking for another job and the fact they have agreed to reduce to 26 from 30 sounds like they are trying to keep their current position not leave

5 years at the same company these days is extreme loyalty. I would be agreeing to their request without hesitation

 

[james2004]

The employee is happy in the job and isn't looking for a new role, he has told us that. But for personal reasons wants to reduce hours, but even if i agree to reduce to what they want i just don't want to get caught out regardless of 20/or 26 whatever.

I presume they need to apply for reduced hours and I agree and amend the contract, whatever we agree?

 

[Newchodge]

The employee is happy in the job and isn't looking for a new role, he has told us that. But for personal reasons wants to reduce hours, but even if i agree to reduce to what they want i just don't want to get caught out regardless of 20/or 26 whatever.

I presume they need to apply for reduced hours and I agree and amend the contract, whatever we agree?

They ask to reduce, you agree and you issue a letter confirming the change. Or you ak for a reduction, they agree and you issue ....

What you cannot do is force a change against their will.

 

[WaveJumper]

Interesting read on the rules for a flexible working requests
https://www.acas.org.uk/making-a-flexible-working-request

The over riding factor as @Newchodge has pointed out, make sure you document everything properly.

 

[lesliedocherty]

You can't possibly know they are looking for another job and the fact they have agreed to reduce to 26 from 30 sounds like they are trying to keep their current position not leave

5 years at the same company these days is extreme loyalty. I would be agreeing to their request without hesitation

I can, I'm psychic,

 

[WaveJumper]

I can, I'm psychic,

To be fair you did add "maybe not" however you are probably correct if they don't get what they want

 

[Paul Norman]

This is another thread that prompts a straightforward reply.

1. Agreeing to the employees request for a reduction carries zero risk. Just put it in writing correctly.

2. Reducing further does carry risk, but if you follow proper HR process that risk is significantly mitigated.

3. Engaging the employee in conversation about it would be my first move. You are essentially negotiating over 6 hours - and unless your business is unable to afford those 6 hours there is no rush. But we can have no idea how the employee might take to being offered 20 hours unless you ask them.

 

[lesliedocherty]

This is another thread that prompts a straightforward reply.

1. Agreeing to the employees request for a reduction carries zero risk. Just put it in writing correctly.

2. Reducing further does carry risk, but if you follow proper HR process that risk is significantly mitigated.

3. Engaging the employee in conversation about it would be my first move. You are essentially negotiating over 6 hours - and unless your business is unable to afford those 6 hours there is no rush. But we can have no idea how the employee might take to being offered 20 hours unless you ask them.

Exactly, everything is a conversation, he might want to do something else with his time, might suit him, or it might not, you'll know after a chat.