Short time working

Short time working occurs when your employer reduces your hours because of a shortage of work and this results in your wages being reduced to less than half of their normal rate.

Your employer can only impose short time working if your contract of employment entitles it to do so or if it is the custom and practice in your industry.

If your employer introduces short time working when it doesn't have the right to do so this may qualify as a fundamental breach of your contract of employment and entitle you to claim that you have been the victim of a constructive dismissal and to bring a claim for compensation to an employment tribunal.

This is a complex area of law and its important that you take advice from one of our employment specialists before you take any action.

If you are put on short time working for 4 consecutive weeks or for 6 weeks in any period of 13 weeks you may be entitled to claim a redundancy payment from your employer.

Strict time limits apply to tribunal claims so its important that you contact us now.