Is it wrong for an employer to change company policy in the middle of a quarter?

Question

Can they exchange sick time (4 days per year) to floater days (3 per year)?

Answer 1

Can they?

Sure.

Can you sue over it? Well, you could try, but I really really doubt
you would get anywhere. You would have to prove monetary
damages.

You could probably argue that the company's by-laws and
policies form an implied part of your employment contract,
but companies change these policies all the time and I have
yet to see any employee successfully litigate just because
the policies weren't the ones he signed up with.

You would have to prove that you had take action (or hadn't
done something you would ordinarily have done) based on
the company's policies and that the modification of those
policies demonstrably hurts you.

If you think that they have somehow reduced a benefit, you
would have to prove that you could/would have taken another
job which would not have better benefits.

By the time all is said and done, you'll have spent more money
then you'd recoup.

Answer 2

In short, yes. They can change any policy at any time, unless:

1-they stated, in writing, that they won't do it
2-it's against the law.

Changing sick time policy for all employees at once would not be unlawful.

But.. let's talk more about #1. The exceptions is if you have a "personal services contract" or a union contract or another legal document that each of you signed and agreed to at the beginning of the engagement.

While you could try to pursue a legal challenge for changing a policy that was offered to you when you accepted the job, it's unlikely the courts would find in your favor. Sorry.

Answer 3

Unfornately if you work for a company they pretty much get to say whatever they want regardless of whether it's wrong or right. Remember they probably gave you a booklet of their rules and somewhere hidden in there in very small prints is written that they have the right to change their minds about the rules whenever they want to. And it's proably written next to the rule that you are an "at will employee". Meaning they can fire you for no reason whenever they feel like it, especially if you decide to ask too many questions.

Answer 4

I don't know where you live, but in the UK they cannot change your contract of employment without your agreement.