Menu
06/01/2005
UK's workers put in £23m unpaid overtime: TUC
UK workers' unpaid overtime amounted to £23 million in 2004, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have claimed.
According to the TUC's latest analysis of official statistics, every employee who did unpaid overtime would have earned, on average, £4650 for their work, if they had been paid at their normal rate. If all their unpaid overtime had been worked at the start of the year, the TUC say, they would have worked for free until February 25.
The figures reveal that Londoners work the longest hours in the UK, putting in an extra 7 hours 54 minutes a year – almost a full working day. If they had been paid for this, they would have earned an extra £7000 a year. Employees in Wales worked the second longest working hours, working an extra 7 hours 42 minutes a week (worth £4320), while those in the West Midlands worked an extra 7 hours 36 minutes (worth £4410 – figures based on average hourly pay rates in each region).
TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, said: "We're not saying that we should turn into a nation of clock-watchers. Most people do not mind putting in some extra time when there's a crisis or an unexpected rush. But too many workplaces have come to depend on very long hours. They get taken for granted and staff have to do even more if there is an unexpected rush."
Mr Barber also criticised workplaces that depend on longer hours, saying they were "inefficient and unproductive".
"People are putting in long hours to make up for poor organisation and planning in the workplace," he said.
"It also puts employer complaints of the costs of benefits such as pensions or time off for new parents into perspective," Mr Barber added. "Employers have been cutting back on pensions even as their staff put in longer hours".
The TUC is now urging employees to recognise February 25 2005 as 'Work Your Proper Hours Day' and suggest that employees should only work their contracted hours, in order to remind their bosses how much they depend on unpaid extra work and loyalty of their staff.
The TUC would like employees to tell them their stories about long hours and unpaid overtime, visit www.worksmartorg.uk/workyourproperhoursday.
(KMcA/SP)
According to the TUC's latest analysis of official statistics, every employee who did unpaid overtime would have earned, on average, £4650 for their work, if they had been paid at their normal rate. If all their unpaid overtime had been worked at the start of the year, the TUC say, they would have worked for free until February 25.
The figures reveal that Londoners work the longest hours in the UK, putting in an extra 7 hours 54 minutes a year – almost a full working day. If they had been paid for this, they would have earned an extra £7000 a year. Employees in Wales worked the second longest working hours, working an extra 7 hours 42 minutes a week (worth £4320), while those in the West Midlands worked an extra 7 hours 36 minutes (worth £4410 – figures based on average hourly pay rates in each region).
TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, said: "We're not saying that we should turn into a nation of clock-watchers. Most people do not mind putting in some extra time when there's a crisis or an unexpected rush. But too many workplaces have come to depend on very long hours. They get taken for granted and staff have to do even more if there is an unexpected rush."
Mr Barber also criticised workplaces that depend on longer hours, saying they were "inefficient and unproductive".
"People are putting in long hours to make up for poor organisation and planning in the workplace," he said.
"It also puts employer complaints of the costs of benefits such as pensions or time off for new parents into perspective," Mr Barber added. "Employers have been cutting back on pensions even as their staff put in longer hours".
The TUC is now urging employees to recognise February 25 2005 as 'Work Your Proper Hours Day' and suggest that employees should only work their contracted hours, in order to remind their bosses how much they depend on unpaid extra work and loyalty of their staff.
The TUC would like employees to tell them their stories about long hours and unpaid overtime, visit www.worksmartorg.uk/workyourproperhoursday.
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 February 2012
Surge In Older Workers Doing Unpaid Overtime
The proportion of employees in their late 50s and early 60s working unpaid overtime has increased sharply in the last decade - despite a fall in unpaid hours for the rest of the workforce - according to a new TUC analysis published today to mark Work Your Proper Hours Day.
Surge In Older Workers Doing Unpaid Overtime
The proportion of employees in their late 50s and early 60s working unpaid overtime has increased sharply in the last decade - despite a fall in unpaid hours for the rest of the workforce - according to a new TUC analysis published today to mark Work Your Proper Hours Day.
24 February 2006
Senior managers top overtime table
Senior managers have overtaken teachers as the workers who put in the most unpaid overtime, the TUC has said. The union found that top managers who do unpaid hours put in on average an extra 12 hours of unpaid work each week - an increase of more than two hours from 2005.
Senior managers top overtime table
Senior managers have overtaken teachers as the workers who put in the most unpaid overtime, the TUC has said. The union found that top managers who do unpaid hours put in on average an extra 12 hours of unpaid work each week - an increase of more than two hours from 2005.
24 February 2005
Teachers work most unpaid overtime, TUC says
Teachers and lecturers work longer hours of unpaid overtime than any other occupation, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has revealed. Teacher and lecturers topped the TUC's unpaid overtime league table, which has been published ahead of the TUC-organised 'Work Your Proper Hours Day', which takes place tomorrow.
Teachers work most unpaid overtime, TUC says
Teachers and lecturers work longer hours of unpaid overtime than any other occupation, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has revealed. Teacher and lecturers topped the TUC's unpaid overtime league table, which has been published ahead of the TUC-organised 'Work Your Proper Hours Day', which takes place tomorrow.
15 April 2005
Workplace racism is ‘damaging’ careers, TUC claims
Racism in the British workplace is “damaging” the career prospects of many black workers, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has claimed. The TUC said that black workers get less training opportunities, although they are often better qualified than their white counterparts.
Workplace racism is ‘damaging’ careers, TUC claims
Racism in the British workplace is “damaging” the career prospects of many black workers, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has claimed. The TUC said that black workers get less training opportunities, although they are often better qualified than their white counterparts.
23 February 2006
Reducing stress is 'key to solving long working hours culture'
Reducing stress is the key to improving the work/life balance of UK workers, management consulting firm Croner has said.
Reducing stress is 'key to solving long working hours culture'
Reducing stress is the key to improving the work/life balance of UK workers, management consulting firm Croner has said.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
