Asked to accept night shifts or lose your job? New fire and rehire plans explain the intended protection.

New plans explain which contractual shift changes, such as a move to nights or weekends, the fire and rehire protections are intended to cover. Regulations are aimed for March 2027.

A proposed move from day work to nights can affect childcare, travel and family life. The government’s 22 October response identifies the contractual shift changes it intends to cover within the stronger fire and rehire protections.

The proposed scope includes requiring night work where it was not previously required, or day work where it was not previously required. It also includes a move to required weekend work from weekdays only, or the reverse. The intended night period is 11pm to 6am. These rules concern contractual periods of work, rather than every change within a rota or an availability window.