Can my boss reduce my working hours?

Question

Accepted Answer

If you’re on a permanent or fixed-term employment agreement, it will have your hours of work, which your employer can’t change without your written agreement. If it says your employer can change the hours, they still have to act fairly and reasonably before they do.
Your employer can’t offer fewer hours than is written in the contract. If they do, they have to pay the number of hours stated in the employment contract. If your employer wants to cut your hours, check your agreement to see what it says about your hours of work and how to manage any change.
If you’re in a casual employment contract, with no established pattern and time working for your employer, they can change your hours of work and pay, but you don't have to agree to it. Your hours can be cut because you’re only working as and when required, and you can say no to work offered to you. If you have a regular pattern of work, regular hours each week and you are regularly on the roster for certain shifts, you may have a case that you weren’t actually a casual worker.
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