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Unpaid overtime saves £23 billion

Published On 4 January 2007 at 11:05:17

Employers are saving £23 billion a year thanks to employees' willingness to work unpaid overtime.

The average UK employee puts in seven hours and six minutes of unpaid overtime each week, amounting to savings of £4,800 per worker over the year.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which compiled the figures, argues that long working hours are a "very real hazard" to employees' physical and emotional health and is urging people to work their proper hours on February 23rd.

It is also encouraging employers to thank workers for their unpaid overtime, suggesting that they encourage employees to take a proper lunch break by treating them to a meal.

However, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) criticises the TUC for failing to point out that the percentage of employees working more than an hour overtime each week fell last year to its lowest level for more than 15 years.

A CBI spokesperson added: "It is professional staff who tend to work the longest hours and this is reflected in the more generous salaries they earn.

"Hourly workers who put in long shifts get paid overtime and often welcome the extra money in their pay packets."

A TUC survey last year agreed that senior managers put in the most overtime, having overtaken teachers.

 

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