Question: Can an employer reduce your salary? My husband was sent an email stating that is salary was going to be reduced, and they will only think of increasing it if they feel he has proved himself worthy, if not he will be dismissed. They have not given him any warnings either verbally or written that he is not doing his work properly. The only things he was told to do, was to clean the machines, which he is doing every week. To keep the yard clean by using the staff that load trucks and do the packing, and when he tells the staff to clean up, somebody else will come and tell the staff to do something else. He was also told to take his lunch hour at a diferent time than the operaters so that he could do maintenance on the machines. These are the things that the employer is saying that my hsuband is not doing. That he is not taking his lunch hour at a different time, not keeping the machines clean, that the yard is not clean. When management have a staff meeting, he his told to carry on doing his maintenance, so he never hears what needs to be done from management, he gets told things by the admin staff and sales rep. Things that need to be done are disscussed with the sales rep. His letter of appointment stated he would be on three months probation pay and thereafter they would increase it, to what both parties agreed on, which they did. It also stated that he will report directly to management.My husband has being working for them since August 2008 as Fitter/Millwright.

Answer: No employees salary may be reduced without signed consent and agreement by the employee. In regards to this matter you husband has every right to refer an unfair labour practice matter to the CCMA, if they unilaterally reduce his salary. I do not consider it unreasonable to ask someone to take a lunch hour at a different time for work related reasons. Bear in mind, he is still getting his lunch hour. They cannot dismiss your husband merely for not accepting a salary decrease. If they did so this would be automatically unfair and your husband would most definitely again refer this to the CCMA should this happen. Automatically unfair dismissals may carry awards of up to 24 months salary. If you husband is aggrieved with his situation he should put in a formal written grievance to his immediate manager detailing all reasons for his discontent.

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