What constitutes “substantial change” to job conditions under employment law?

The concept of “substantial change” in job conditions refers to modifications that significantly alter key aspects of an employee's work life. This includes changes that affect the fundamental nature of the job or the terms of employment, such as salary adjustments, shifts in job responsibilities, or modifications to work hours that impact an employee's role within the organization.

Understanding that substantial changes are those that have a meaningful impact on the employment relationship is crucial. If an employee's duties are transformed so drastically that it requires a different skill set or alters their position in a way that cannot be reasonably expected, it usually qualifies as a substantial change.

In contrast, minor adjustments—such as slight alterations to the work schedule, changes only to workplace location without altering the job’s core function, or changes resulting from employee requests that do not significantly affect the key terms of employment—do not meet the threshold of being a substantial change. Therefore, the definition focusing on significant alterations to the nature of the work or terms of employment accurately captures what constitutes a substantial change under employment law.