The TUC figures show an increase in unpaid overtime, if all employees did their unpaid overtime at the beginning of the year the first day they would get paid would be 27th February.  Last year the TUC quoted the date of 22nd February - this is an increase of 5 days.

Looking at the 2007 figures in comparison to 2008, Yorkshire employees are not as badly off as their East Midlands colleagues.  In Yorkshire and Humber, employees have only worked an average of 6 minutes more per week.  In  East Midlands the increase is 36 minutes per week.  There is no change in London figures - still topping the league for unpaid overtime at 7 hours and 54 minutes per week!

Yes, the ecomonic climate is contributing to the increase in some ways, but I believe it’s management and employees, in the majority, working together to ensure that businesses continue to survive and be successful, taking the longer term view for continued employment.

There are cases of excessive unpaid overtime, this is a mistake on management’s part and the employee’s.  Long hours create stress, poor productivity, absences from work and higher labour turnover in the long term.  Employees should raise concerns regarding overwork and management should understand that they could face claims from employees who have had enough.

Higher productivity is achieved by staffing to the right levels, training staff properly and giving them the proper tools to do the job.  Also by monitoring performance and watching for problems, fixing them quickly and to the best of management’s ability.