Please note that I can’t give specific advice here and you should take specialist guidance if you feel your rights are being breached, but here are some general principles.

Employees and workers are protected by the provisions of the Working Time Regulations 1998. The protection means that you you don’t have to work more than 48 hours a week on average. The average is worked out following a formula which is then averaged over a 17 week rolling period.

The rule about rest days is generally one day off in seven days or two off in 14, but these can be flexible to meet the needs of the organisation.

If your daily working hours exceed six you will be entitled to a minimum of 20 minutes break during the day. This may be paid or unpaid.

If your employer has changed following the transfer of a service, you may be protected by the TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) legislation. This gives you the right to work for your new employer on the same (or no less favourable) terms than the ones on which you transferred to him. It may be that by insisting on increasing your hours the employer is in breach of contract.

Employers do have the right to change aspects of employment contracts but they are always subject to the over-riding requirement of reasonableness.

It is open to you to raise a grievance in the first instance to discuss your concerns.

I hope this helps.