Can my employer reduce my contracted full time working hours whilst employing agency staff doing exactly the same job under the same conditions - have 7 years service and they want to cut my hours in half!!! Any help - really appreciated Amanda

Hiya - thanks very much for the replies Definitely in the UK - sorry, using an iffy keyboard and can't display "pounds" My contract is very vague and there has never been an agreed "sleep-in" clause - ie how many we can expect to do, when they start etc. With health care support the bit that mentions the need to be flexible is often taken to extremes. I only questioned it as every other project within my company have a sleep in starting at 11.00pm, indeed I have worked for 5 years under those arrangements, it has only been at this project the hours differ - another employee mentioned "contract by implication" but I could find little to support this - have we an argument? Advice really appreciated and many thanks in advance

Hello there, Have been employed for the past 2 years where my sleep-in payment of approx $32 have covered the hours of 10pm until 6am ie 8hrs - no hourly rate applies here - it is just a flat rate for being on duty, just incase you are needed. My hourly pay stops at 10pm, and starts again at 6am. Last week it was announced that all the projects within my company are being brought into line and that from now, the sleep-in payment will cover the hours from 11pm-6am (7hrs). Since my project is the only one that this has affected in this particular way, do I have a claim for the "extra" one hour I have inadvertently worked for the previous 2 years. Nothing else has changed for me, other than I am now working one hour later in the evening on normal pay. (There has been no change of contract, terms etc for 7yrs) Any advice gratefully received With thanks