Employers can change job roles for the staff based on the working environment and pressure. If there is a requirement for the employer to work on a new activity, it is not possible to create a new position and get a worker employed always.
Even when there is a free position, the company may move a person to the required free position to fill up the space and ask them to perform old and new responsibilities.
Can My Employer Change My Job Role Without My Consent
The employer can change your job role without your consent. However, this statement is only applicable if there is no written employment agreement between the employer and you.
Can Your Work Hours Be Changed Without Your Consent?
If no formal union contracts have been signed, the company has the right to change your shift or work hours to accommodate the organization’s requirements. If it helps you prepare for a better future role, you might as well want to consider it.
However, there is no hard and fast rule about work hour changes. You must connect with your employer if you are not comfortable with the shift assigned to you.
From the Employer’s Point of View
Companies face several situations that cause them to change their employees’ roles. However, it is crucial to understand the reason before discussing it with the employee so they can accept it easily.
The Employee is Ready for More Responsibility
Job responsibility changes are not always harmful; they can also be a way of rewarding the employees. And it is the responsibility of the company to see to it that the potential employees are rewarded for their excellent work.
Promotions or additional work are rewards that gives employees authority to lead projects, or even a team. However, the company must test the employee first. After the given responsibilities are completed with positive results, the formality should be completed.
Promotions are also considered a change, but only upward. At will employee can take a different vertical if the manager feels they have potential in a different arena from what the employee has been doing.
The Work/role Has Changed
Your boss is also responsible for handling situations that may jeopardize an employee’s job. It can be due to a department being shut, or a job profile getting diluted to reduce expenses.
These days automation and technology are causing more and more manual jobs to go obsolete, leaving the employees with a skill set of no use and a job title that no longer exists.
In such cases, the boss must ensure that if the employee is offered a lateral movement in another division that can utilize their skills.
And this is done post discussions with the employee to help them understand that the boss wishes to help them find work that guarantees stable employment.
Yet, the company must offer early release from job if the employee cannot come to terms with the offer.
The Employee Isn’t Performing
For employees not performing well in the employee’s job description, the employer must go through several assessment rounds to offer them the best until they can no longer. So, if you have an employee who cannot catch up with the rest of the team, it is time to discuss the performance standards.
Organizations are responsible for ensuring that all such underperforming staff are given training and helped with mentorship programs to improve their performance.
However, if it still does not help, the organization must discuss this and offer the person another job role that helps them retain the job while also doing a suitable role.
Such discussions should be transparent and honest, and handled delicately. You can complete the formalities if the person is ready to accept the role change. The person could also ask for more time, which would be okay unless the organization has already exempted employees before.
If the person disagrees with the suggested job role changes, it might be time to go for a new job interview.
From the Worker’s Point of View
While the organizations may have the right reasons to change your job role, you must stand up for yourself and see that there are no discrepancies in their statements and your actual work.
The Employee Isn’t Ready for More Responsibility
If you are not free to take up more work or move to a more significant job role, you might want to keep this in mind when your boss discusses the job role change.
Often employers assume that the staff will always consider promotion with more work pressure, but it may not be accurate. It can also be that your inclination is not in the work that the job role requires or wish to pursue something else entirely.
The Work/role Has Changed
If the job role you were offered had changed quickly, it might be time to discuss this with your boss.
If your offer letter reads a different work responsibility from what you are asked to perform, the boss may have modified the role to avoid rescinding the offer.
Market conditions or internal organizational issues often cause a hiring freeze for specific roles. However, if a person has been hired, your boss may try to justify the at-will employment by giving you a different work set. It can happen slowly and without your knowledge.
Similarly, the employer may have given false hopes about the job, so it is a clear indication to look for another opportunity. You could contact your HR so that they can help compensate for the trouble you had to go through.
Consider What Changing Job Duties Means
Before you take a stand, think about the job responsibilities being changed and whether it is for your good. It could signal a promotion if you are asked to do more work or perform managerial tasks.
However, if the role makes you move back to basics, it might be a demotion and would mean you’d expect to find a new job.
5 Things To Do If Your Boss Changes Your Job Description
Before you decide, here are 5 things that you should do if your boss changes the job descriptions:
1. Listen
You must discuss the situation with your boss and ask them for an explanation. Your role is to listen to them. Be patient and see if their reason is understandable and makes any sense.
2. Process the change outside the office
Before you do anything drastic at work, give yourself time to consider the role change after office. You could give yourself some space and be logical about the situation and what you should do about it.
3. Ask questions
You could also return to your boss and ask questions about the role changes. See if you can find any positives that come out of this change. It might just turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
4. Map the changes to your goals and aspirations
Try to align the role changes to your aspirations. It may just help you get closer to your career goals faster than you’d have done if you had stayed with your previous role.
5. Dive in
If it has no practical downside, be free to accept the role with a positive attitude and do your best in the new profile. You might find a better career path through this.
Changing Job Description Laws in USA
As per the law, if there is no employment contract, you are not free to take legal actions against the employer for changing your work description.
What Are the Protections Against Job Changes?
The law states that a formal document with written roles and responsibilities protects employees from legal issues. In case of generic statements, for example, do any other tasks as required by the employer, you might want to take clarity on this statement for legal purposes.
Can an Employer Add Duties Without Compensation
Yes, many employees get responsibilities added to their role without monetary benefits. Most employees are given another job role without compensation if the profile is diluted.
Can My Employer Change My Pay Structure Without Notice
Lowering an employee’s salary or changing the salary structure without prior information and an implied contract from them is not legal. For example, the fair labor standards act states, if you do not receive overtime pay for the extra hours or are below the defined minimum wage, you should contact HR.
Can I Refuse to Do Something, Not in My Job Description?
No, the employer cannot fire employees for refusing to perform a task not mentioned in their employee handbook or the legal contract but can find other ways to bring them down.
Can My Employer Change My Work Location?
Yes, the employer can change your work location; however, if there has been a written contract stating your office location in the offer, they cannot do so without your confirmation.