Menu
06/01/2005
UK companies benefit from £23m in 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 Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
05 January 2006
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.
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.
07 November 2006
TUC Say 48-hour Opt Out Unnecessary
As European ministers meet to discuss the future of the UK's opt-out from the Working Time Directive's 48 hour limit on the average working week, the TUC has claimed that the UK 'does not need an opt-out' any longer.
TUC Say 48-hour Opt Out Unnecessary
As European ministers meet to discuss the future of the UK's opt-out from the Working Time Directive's 48 hour limit on the average working week, the TUC has claimed that the UK 'does not need an opt-out' any longer.
04 July 2014
High Court Rule Unpaid Work Scheme 'Incompatible' With Human Rights Laws
The High Court has ruled that emergency laws introduced by the government in 2012 that allowed its back-to-work scheme to place jobseekers in unpaid work, is "incompatible" with the European Convention on Human Rights.
High Court Rule Unpaid Work Scheme 'Incompatible' With Human Rights Laws
The High Court has ruled that emergency laws introduced by the government in 2012 that allowed its back-to-work scheme to place jobseekers in unpaid work, is "incompatible" with the European Convention on Human Rights.
11 February 2004
Move to end workers' long hours slammed by CBI
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has strongly criticised the European Parliament today after MEPs voted to stop employees working more than 48 hours a week.
Move to end workers' long hours slammed by CBI
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has strongly criticised the European Parliament today after MEPs voted to stop employees working more than 48 hours a week.
27 February 2018
Unions Propose Changes To Precarious Work Legislation
Proposed legalisation on precarious work cannot deal with the problem and must be changed in five key areas if it is to benefit the hundreds of thousands of people enduring unacceptable working conditions, trade union SIPTU has said.
Unions Propose Changes To Precarious Work Legislation
Proposed legalisation on precarious work cannot deal with the problem and must be changed in five key areas if it is to benefit the hundreds of thousands of people enduring unacceptable working conditions, trade union SIPTU has said.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:This evening will be dry. The rest of the night will remain dry with variable amounts of cloud and some clear periods. Light southwesterly winds. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
