In your workplace: employment advice

Q: My NHS Trust is considering sacking staff and re-employing them on new contracts with less favourable conditions. What are my options?

A: This is an extreme move and will not have been made lightly. The law says your employer can, if they fail to gain agreement from employees, impose new terms and conditions by sacking their workforce and immediately offering new contracts. However, there are three important steps before such a change could take place.

First, your employer has to consult with all employees, initially through unions, if there is a collective agreement and all staff must have an opportunity to discuss proposals with senior management, gaining clarity on reasons and presenting alternative proposals. There is guidance on how long this consultation should last.