According to the CLA hospitality 2025-2026, your schedule must be known at least three weeks in advance. Your employer is also required to maintain a record of your work and rest times. If you request it, your employer must be able to provide you with an overview. Apart from that, it is important that you also keep a good record of the hours you work, so you can properly check if what your employer records is correct.
If you work in hospitality, irregular working hours are normal, but you do have the right to know at least two weeks in advance when you are scheduled to work. Is your employer not doing this? Here’s what you can do about it!
The CLA hospitality stipulates that your employer must announce the schedule at least two weeks in advance. Once your schedule is known, it cannot be changed without good reason. If your employer wants to change the schedule, there must be a compelling business interest. For example, if a few colleagues have fallen ill and you need to cover for them. This should be done in consultation with you.
If your employer changes the schedule and it doesn’t suit you, discuss it with your employer to find a suitable solution. Simply not showing up for work is not advisable. This could be considered refusal to work and could have serious consequences for you. If you have a good reason for not being able to work on a certain day or time, a lawyer can weigh the interests. The employer’s business interest is then balanced against your personal interest. Who is ultimately justified depends on the circumstances.
What can you do?
Are you frequently affected by schedule changes or is your schedule not announced on time? Don’t address this alone, but together with your colleagues, bring it up with your employer! Also, put something in writing to prove that you have reported this issue.
Do you want a Sunday off?
According to the law, you are entitled to 13 free Sundays per year, which means your employer can require you to work 39 Sundays per year. If you are covered by the CLA hospitality and want a weekend off, you can request time off as an employee. Your employer must grant this request if you work (or have worked) at least 39 Sundays in a rolling 12-month period and business conditions allow it. This does not mean you must have worked 39 Sundays before you are entitled to a free weekend!