Restructuring
Employers may need to make changes in the workplace for a variety of reasons, such as:
- improved technology
- more productive business processes
- product changes
- loss of suppliers or markets
- a decision to contract out or sell some or all of the business.
Employers should take care that restructuring changes don’t create employment relationship problems. The law requires employers to provide information to employees when they are considering changes that will affect their jobs and to give them an opportunity to contribute to any decisions.
The more significant a proposed change is, the more likely it is that it cannot be imposed without the employee’s agreement. Even where the employment agreement states that certain changes can be introduced in the future, they should be introduced with early advice and discussion. Employees should have an opportunity to comment before an employer makes a decision.
Restructuring a business may result in redundancies if positions are no longer required. An employer must have a genuine work-related reason for a redundancy. More information on redundancies and catering, cleaning.
