The Employment Relations Authority has upheld a claim for unjustified disadvantage of an employee whose hours were changed from a morning to night shift without her consent. 

The employee had an Employment Agreement which specified her hours as 7 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday with any changes only to be made by mutual agreement.  The employer decided to change her hours to 3 pm to 11 pm despite her disagreement with the change.

The Employment Relations Authority awarded $15,000 compensation for the hurt and humiliation suffered by the employee but declined to award any lost wages as the employee could have taken up the alternative shifts and therefore not lost any wages.

Alan Knowsley
Employment Lawyer
Wellington