Working hours and rights: What can you do as an employee?

Questioner

I have a permanent position as a department secretary in a nursing ward in a hospital Have a contract for 19 hours per week Can I be forced to work more hours per week or, if it suits the employer, fewer hours? And can he force me to work in other departments? Flexibility is the employer's new showpiece I have worked for over 20 years in a fixed schedule of 2 and 3 days a week My employer thinks I should work when it suits him and also stay home when it suits him My employment contract states that the average working hours are 19 hours per week

Lawyer

In principle, your employer may not simply decide that you have to work more or less. You are entitled to the number of working hours stated in your employment contract. If it is an incidental request and it is in the interest of the company that you temporarily work less, then you cannot reasonably refuse this. However, you are entitled to your full salary. Also for the hours that you do not work. If your boss structurally requires you to work less, you should not agree to this. Your employer should then turn to the court. If your employer suddenly wants you to work at different times and in different departments, you do not always have to agree to this. However, this does depend on the agreements on working hours that are in your employment contract or collective labor agreement. An employer may only change working hours if he has a very good reason.