Question: Due to the current economic situation – my company needs to ask 3 employees to change their hours to half day. They have been identified as people who aren’t busy all the time and the company is able to continue it’s work with less hours from these people.

What are the legal implications of this? One of the employees is pregnant and due in September. Is this legal – to request that they cut their hours in half – and by extension their salaries?

Answer: There is no particular legislation that deals specifically with half day. I think rather the situation you company is implementing is one of a short time scenario. Laws governing working hours concern themselves with working excessively rather than less than the maximum prescribed standard and overtime hours. However, in any company that wants to change terms and conditions of employment they are required to follow procedure which means they would have to consult with all staff with regards to their proposed changes and ask the staff for alternative suggestions to their proposal. No company may unilaterally reduce salaries without the employees signed consent. You have not provided information as to what industry your company is in but I suggest that you see if there is a governing bargaining council and, if so, the employees could lodge a formal complaint via the council.

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