Can my employer change my contract without agreement?

This guidance applies to Great Britain unless stated otherwise. An employment contract is a legally binding agreement between employer and employee, and its terms generally cannot be changed by the employer acting alone without the employee's consent. If an employer tries to impose a change — for example, reducing pay, changing working hours, removing a contractual benefit, or altering job duties — without the employee's agreement, this may amount to a breach of contract. The employee can respond in several ways: they can accept the change (expressly or by conduct, which can constitute implied acceptance), work under protest while reserving their rights, refuse to accept the change, or resign and claim constructive dismissal if the change is sufficiently fundamental. If an employer wishes to change contractual terms without agreement, they may in some circumstances terminate the existing contracts and offer re-engagement on the new terms ("fire and re-hire"). This practice may be lawful in limited circumstances, but carries significant legal risk and is subject to statutory consultation requirements, potential unfair dismissal claims, and contractual principles. The Employment Rights Act reforms have strengthened protections against fire and re-hire — the practice is now significantly harder for employers to justify. Any proposed change to your contract should be communicated in writing. You should seek independent legal advice before accepting or rejecting any change to your employment terms. This information is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.