£22,000 awarded after change imposed to flexible working hours

An ET upholds an employee’s constructive dismissal claim after the employer imposed a change to his contract which breached an agreed flexible working request that he would only work Monday to Friday.
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In Gregory v Royal Mail Group Ltd, Gregory (G) is divorced and sees his daughter at weekends under access arrangements. Delivery and collection duties are undertaken 6 days a week. G made a flexible working request under the Flexible Working Policy to only work Monday to Friday, which was granted. Under the Policy, his terms and conditions of employment changed to reflect his new working hours. Subsequently, duty rosters were altered to improve efficiency and G was required to work 3 Saturdays per month. G complained arguing that his agreed contractual terms were being changed. His complaint was rejected and he was told to work the new duty hours. G resigned stating that the change imposed to his contract undermined trust to the point that he could no longer remain in employment. An ET found that Royal Mail had fundamentally breached G’s contract, entitling him to resign and upheld his constructive dismissal claim, awarding him £22,000.


This update provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out all of the facts, the legal arguments presented and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Click on the links to access full details. If no link is provided, contact us for more information.  Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, SM&B cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.

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