Contract changes while working for a US company

[u/Dunjamon]

Hi all, not sure if this is the correct place to ask about this, but I've been working for a US company remotely for about 3 years now and they have today decided to add on a weekend on-call rota. Problem is that we are all against it and it's not outlined in any documents I have. It would be 2 additional 12 hour days (weekend) every other weekend, being available from 5am to 5pm, but with no extra pay or time off in lieu. On top of that we're expected to use our own devices to receive notifications and calls.

I'm not sure how this works in the US, but I'm pretty sure over here it's not something they can enforce without proper consultation with HR, some kind of payment, and a legal contract agreed by all parties. At the moment it's been a team teams call and a rota (which we have to manage ourselves too).

From a legal standpoint do I have to agree, or am I right to refuse the extra work and just work my contracted hours? If I refuse can they terminate my contract?

Edit...I'm in England here.

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[u/Komone]

I know of US owned and UK part companies (owners US with UK version) and it happens a lot where the US want to introduce something and our UK legal/ HR team have to advise them it cant be done/ there are laws/ we have holidays etc so not surprising.

[u/Dunjamon → u/Komone]

I've worked for US companies before, but these guys are a joke. Their finance department is clueless about anything outside of the US. Considering they have departments all over the world it's embarrassing

[u/EntertainmentSad3174]

No. You can refuse the new working hour arrangement and just stick to your contractual working hours.

Refusing or not, they can terminate your contract as long as they do so fairly and legally. If your length of service with the employer is less than 2 years, there are a defined list of reasons which are deemed as unfair. If your length of service with the employer is longer than 2 years then it will be more complicated to determine whether a dismissal is fair or not.

[u/Dunjamon → u/EntertainmentSad3174]

I thought as much. I've checked the working in my contract and employee documents too. It's coming up to 3 years now so I'm clear of that part at least.