Reduced hours on fixed-term contract

Sprezzatura

Hi all 😊 I’d be really grateful for some advice with the below please…

I went back to part-time paid work last month after 2 years out of employment due to mental health issues. I work 15 hours a week across 3 days and for various (unforeseen!) reasons I’m already finding it too much. Long story short, my new psychiatrist would like me to undergo a fairly major medication change which could take a couple of months and I’m concerned about my ability to manage my work while that’s happening.

I’ve thought about asking to go down to say 10 hours a week for a while, only issue is I’m on a fixed-term contract to deliver a specific project (luckily, not time-bound - they had the funding for 9 months before I was recruited!). I might be asking in the wrong place but I was wondering if anyone knows if my contract could be extended to account for the time I’ll have ‘missed’ if I work reduced hours for a period? My manager is supportive and I’m sure would be open to discussing it, but before I broach the subject it would be useful to know if this is a thing that happens (potentially as a workplace adjustment in respect of disability?).

It would probably work out better for them in the long run as I have a LOT of training to get done and I could do that in the reduced hours period then focus on getting the actual work done!

Thanks so much in advance 😊

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Sprezzatura, it might be worth speaking to ACAS about this. They might have a better idea of what your rights are and whether this might be possible.

Work and employment law advice | Acas

It's good that your manager is supportive though, that's a good start at least! I hope it works out okay for you 😊

Amaya_Ringo

It may depend on whether the project you're working on has a fixed deadline and needs to be completed by x date. That's something you'll only know by talking to your line manager, though :)

Sprezzatura

Thank you @Rosie_Scope @Amaya_Ringo - ACAS crossed my mind but thought I’d ask around first :)

I don’t think they’re particularly fussed re the end date… my employer is a charity and they got the funding for my role in April last year and only advertised in Nov/Dec 😆 but it’s a large charity (quite ‘corporate’) so I don’t know how our HR department would feel about what I’m suggesting! No harm in asking I guess 😊