Reductions of employee work hours should be based on business needs and administered consistently based on applicable factors.  Any changes to store operating hours require prior approval from your field manager.

Work hours should be distributed based on many factors, including employee performance and availability. Just like scheduled hours, distribution of work hour reductions should be based on relevant business considerations including, for example, employee performance, availability, and licensed coverage requirements. Documentation of strong/poor performance via past performance reviews, notes, etc. is recommended to support your decisions. All employees should provide their current availability by completing your brand’s Employee Availability Form, which you should review and use to support your decisions.
Communication is critical! Always notify employees who are subject to hours reduction about the change in advance of the change taking place. Be sure to communicate that the change is based on business needs, how this will impact the employee’s hours, and how the employee was selected for hours reduction per the guidelines provided above. Important Note: Work hours reductions are not a substitute for performance management. Performance issues should be addressed through the appropriate form of corrective action as they arise. Sample Script – Hours Reduction Due to Employee’s Limited Availability At times it is necessary for (Brand) to reduce the number of hours each store is given on a weekly basis, which can result in a reduction in the number of scheduled hours available for employees. Scheduled hours are based on business needs, as well as each employee’s performance and availability. Based on your limited availability you may see a reduction in the number of hours you will be scheduled. If store hours increase, I may be able to schedule you for more hours, provided your performance and availability meet the schedule of available hours. Sample Script – Hours Reduction Based on Performance At times it is necessary for (Brand) to reduce the number of hours each store is given on a weekly basis, which can result in a reduction in the number of scheduled hours available for employees. Scheduled hours are based on business needs, as well as each employee’s performance and availability., Based on your recent performance, that we have reviewed with you previously (refer to performance previously addressed), you may see a reduction in the number of hours you will be scheduled. If store hours increase, I may be able to increase your scheduled hours if your performance improves. It is important to stress that hours are scheduled based upon business needs and productivity, and therefore hours cannot be guaranteed for any employee, regardless of their availability. Additional Information: Explain the possible impact to their benefits. (Ex. full time employee dropping below 30 hours per week on average). If faced with a situation where an employee is working fewer hours than their status requires, ask the employee if they would like to reconsider their availability.
Contact your field manager. Long-term, permanent hours reductions may trigger an employment status change and impact benefits eligibility.

Do you have further questions?

For more information, partner with your manager or submit all relevant information via Employee Relations e-Service. Please refer here to determine if Employee Relations support is required before proceeding.

See Employment Status Changes within this Guide for more information.