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08/12/2011
Unpaid Overtime Is £29bn Economy Boost
The unpaid overtime by UK workers contributes up to £29bn, according to research published by the Government on Thursday.
The report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) said workers in managerial and professional roles were working on average around seven hours of unpaid overtime per week.
However, low skilled workers were working the longest hours of any sector, with an average working time of 44 hours per week, although their unpaid overtime was much on average only an hour per week.
Commenting on the figures, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said the unpaid overtime was a valuable boost to the economy.
"These figures shine a light on the valuable but too often unrewarded extra hours that UK workers put in every week.
"Employers should do more to recognise the unpaid overtime that their staff do, which contributes £29bn to the UK economy every year."
Thursday's report also found that the UK still worked much longer than the EU average, with only people in Austria and Greece working a longer week, at 43.7 hours on average. The shortest full-time hours were in Denmark where the average week clocks in at 39.1 hours.
MR Barber added: "While average hours are falling across the economy - both as a result of the recession and changes in working practices - UK workers are still doing the third longest shifts in Europe, with only Austrians and Greeks working longer.
"Smarter working practises and an end to pointless presenteeism would help make staff more productive and get a better work-life balance."
The report said that the average working time for all in employment stood at 36.3 hours a week, a fall of 4.7% on the 1992 level of 38.1 hours a week.
A spokesman for the ONS said this has been the result of changes in the structure of the economy, with a higher proportion of employment being in the service industry where hours tend to be shortest.
(DW)
The report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) said workers in managerial and professional roles were working on average around seven hours of unpaid overtime per week.
However, low skilled workers were working the longest hours of any sector, with an average working time of 44 hours per week, although their unpaid overtime was much on average only an hour per week.
Commenting on the figures, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said the unpaid overtime was a valuable boost to the economy.
"These figures shine a light on the valuable but too often unrewarded extra hours that UK workers put in every week.
"Employers should do more to recognise the unpaid overtime that their staff do, which contributes £29bn to the UK economy every year."
Thursday's report also found that the UK still worked much longer than the EU average, with only people in Austria and Greece working a longer week, at 43.7 hours on average. The shortest full-time hours were in Denmark where the average week clocks in at 39.1 hours.
MR Barber added: "While average hours are falling across the economy - both as a result of the recession and changes in working practices - UK workers are still doing the third longest shifts in Europe, with only Austrians and Greeks working longer.
"Smarter working practises and an end to pointless presenteeism would help make staff more productive and get a better work-life balance."
The report said that the average working time for all in employment stood at 36.3 hours a week, a fall of 4.7% on the 1992 level of 38.1 hours a week.
A spokesman for the ONS said this has been the result of changes in the structure of the economy, with a higher proportion of employment being in the service industry where hours tend to be shortest.
(DW)
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14 April 2014
Report Says Zero-Hours Contracts 'Should Not Be Used'
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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.
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.
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