TUC claim millions work 'unpaid' overtime

Nearly five million UK employees worked an average of an extra day per week in unpaid overtime last year, the TUC has claimed.

The TUC's research discovered that 4,759,000 employees worked an average of 7 hours 24 minutes in unpaid overtime each week.

Londoners put in the longest hours, working an average of 8 hours and 12 minutes extra unpaid overtime each week.

Employees in Wales, who worked an average of 7 hours 48 minutes extra and workers in Northern Ireland, who worked an average of 7 hours 36 minutes extra, followed them.

The union estimated that if each employee worked all their unpaid overtime at the beginning of the year, they would not begin to get paid until February 24.

However, the TUC's analysis of official figures also found that the percentage of people working at least one extra hour per week unpaid has fallen, dropping to 19.4% - its lowest level since 1992.

Employees in small workplaces were also the least likely to work unpaid overtime, the TUC said.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Millions are still putting in up to an extra day a week for free, but there are now some welcome signs that some employers are beginning to realise that endless hours of unpaid overtime are often a sign of an inefficient workplace and not something to celebrate.

"We don't want to turn into a nation of clock watchers. Most people enjoy their jobs, and don't mind putting an extra effort when there's a rush or emergency, but that easily turns into the long hours culture of extra hours every week."

The TUC is encouraging staff who work unpaid overtime to observe February 24 as 'Work Your Proper Hours Day', by arriving and leaving work on time and taking a proper lunch break.

(KMcA)