Question
“I need to know can my employer reduce my hours? I am the manager of a taxi firm and work 39 hours per week Monday to Friday. I am worried, can my employer reduce my hours? My boss used to drive my autistic son to his special school until an incident occurred and he refused to take my son on this contract. I reported him to licencing for driving while talking on his mobile. Things have never been the same since and he has now reduced my hours to 16 hours with immediate effect. I will only be working two days a week on minimum wage. He said I can use my holidays this week and start back next Thursday 31st March. My other problem is that he took on a part timer about three weeks ago and this doesn’t affect him, whereas I’ve been here for well over five years. I’m also concerned that he pays other people cash in hand to cover some shifts in the office.”
“Please can you tell me my rights, as I need to inform working/child tax that I’m going part time. Can he legally do this to me? He says things are financially strangling him and will cover my shifts. I’m paid cash, fully on the books, get a weekly wage slip along with a weekly wage. I claim working tax and child tax credits and am the sole earner in our household. I have never received a written contract, but so far, he’s stuck to all aspects of employment law i.e. 28 days holidays etc and the correct minimum wage.”
