How much notice should an employer give regarding shifts?

In the UK, there is no specific legislation dictating how much notice an employer should give regarding shifts. However, the law does state that employees must be given ‘reasonable’ notice of any changes to their working hours.

It is generally accepted that ‘reasonable’ notice is at least 24 hours, although this will vary depending on the individual circumstances. For example, if an employee has childcare commitments, their employer may need to give them more notice in order to allow them to make alternative arrangements.

If an employer fails to give employees reasonable notice of a change to their shift patterns, they may be liable for breaching their contract of employment. This could lead to a claim for wrongful dismissal or a breach of the implied term of trust and confidence.

Therefore, it is best practice for employers to give employees as much notice as possible of any changes to their shifts. This will help to avoid any potential disputes further down the line.