When I joined my company, it was on the understanding that I could work flexibly. My boss, however, is using the recession as an excuse to arrange meetings at hours that he knows I shouldn't be at work. I feel he's trying to make my position untenable. Do you have any advice?

Flexible working outside a contract of employment should be avoided at all costs. If this is a contractual arrangement, then you can stand your ground; I suspect that this is not written down. Flexibility is required from both parties and if times are tough for your business then you will have to flex just as much as your boss. So what can you do?

Get the arrangement confirmed

Who did you have the understanding with and was anything recorded? Get out any paperwork you have and ensure that your HR department and boss have a copy, especially if it records your regular hours of work. Even if this wasn't in your contract but it is recorded (an e-mail will do), then it is part of your contract and represents “custom and practice”. This may be enough if it reminds your boss of contractual understandings and gain agreement that meetings you are required to attend will take place in your normal working hours. If there is no paperwork, only an informal understanding, you have far less to rely on when you challenge what is going on.

Get the issue out in the open

If you need the flexibility to be able to continue in the job, you need to get your historical working patterns recognised as your formal hours. This is tricky. Employers can agree more flexible working arrangements subject to business requirements. It is my understanding that these can be rescinded if business requirements dictate, but only after notice and consultation. So your choice is difficult: you could accept that the recession is putting pressure on the business and accept the changes, or go through a formal process and risk having any flexibility rejected. If you can't continue to accept the changes being made to your working patterns, raise it formally with your boss and I recommend involving HR. You will need to justify why you think your preferred work pattern is the agreed one and why it still works for your business and you'll need to take the consequences of a refusal.

On the other hand, perhaps your boss has a point and what suited you in times of plenty cannot be maintained in a tougher era. Showing understanding and short-term flexibility may just bring the work pattern you'd prefer back when the recession fades.

Chris Bones is the Dean of Henley Business School.

Send your questions to businessfeatures@thetimes.co.uk

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