Cresswell v Inland Revenue [1984] ICR 508

• Plaintiffs were employed by Defendant as tax collectors and refused to operate the new computerised system. Defendants suspended them without pay until they were prepared to operate the new system.

• Plaintiffs sought a declaration that they were not bound to operate the new computers under employment contracts and hence Defendant had breached the contract by requiring them to do so.

Walton J

• Held that it is an implied term of the contract that the employer has the ability to alter the terms unilaterally in the interests of technological development.

• “There can really be no doubt as to the fact that an employee is expected to adapt himself to new methods and techniques introduced in the course of his employment”, provided reasonable training is given, where necessary.

• Now that the computer has made its way into schools, homes, workplaces, etc., it cannot be regarded as unusual or esoteric to ask an employee to use one.