Not Sure? Ask Us with Catherine Fletcher

Your employer is only allowed to change your work hours if you agree to it, or your employment agreement allows for it.

This includes changing the number of hours you work, your start and finish times, and/or the days of the week you will work.

Your employer should always act fairly and reasonably before making a change to your work hours.

Even if the employment agreement allows for changes to work hours, the employer should explain to you why they want to make the change, give you time to get independent advice and consider your thoughts.

If your time and days of work are normally organised by shifts or a roster, your employment agreement needs to have a clause that covers what happens if a shift is cancelled.

If your agreement does not have a clause about cancelling shifts, but your employer cancels a shift anyway, they must pay you what you would have received for that shift.

If you think you have been unfairly treated, there are steps you can take to resolve the issue with your employer. For more information, visit: cab.org.nz/article/KB00041532