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Workers in the North West
put in ₤2.9 billion worth of unpaid overtime a year
WORKERS in the North West gave their
employers ₤2.9 billion of free labour last year by doing unpaid overtime,
according to new analysis of official statistics published by the TUC.
538,521 people in the North West, put in an average of 7.3 hours a week in unpaid
overtime during 2016. This is worth ₤5,519 a year on the average wage.
This week the TUC held it's 13th Annual Work Your Proper Hours Day. Prior to this day,
the average person doing unpaid overtime has effectively worked the year so far
for free.
To mark the day, the TUC is asking workers to take a proper lunch break and
leave on time. Managers should consider how to stop relying on their staff's
unpaid overtime.
The TUC is warning workers that Brexit may threaten their working time
protections. Currently guaranteed by EU law, the rights could be weakened by
future governments following Brexit.
The TUC has designed an
online calculator for workers
to find out how much more they would get paid each year if their unpaid overtime
was paid at their usual rate.
TUC Regional Secretary for the North West Lynn Collins said:- "Few of us
mind putting in some extra time when it's needed. But if it happens all the time
and gets taken for granted, that's a problem. So make a stand today, take your
full lunch break and go home on time.
The best bosses understand that a long hours culture doesn't get good results.
So we're asking managers to set an example by leaving on time too.
Anyone worried about the long hours culture in their workplace should get
together with workmates and join a union. That way you can get your voices heard
and get the support you need to make sure your boss doesn't break the rules.
The government still doesn't have a water tight plan to stop working time
protections getting weaker when we leave the EU. The Prime Minister should
promise to put a guarantee into our future trade deals with Europe that British
workers will have a level playing field with EU workers." |
