Unpaid overtime is on the increase
As the economic crisis continues to grip the UK the TUC has released a figure relating to unpaid overtime during 2008. They estimate that 5.24 million people put in extra hours to the value of £26.9 billion for which they were not paid. This seems to be a common occurrence during recessionary times and despite attempts by unions and the government to halt the trend, too many people appear too concerned about their employment prospects during a recession to change.
The problem some employees have is the fact that in many ways they "make a rod for their own back" because some employers will expect additional hours even as the recession starts to weaken and economy starts to turn. When do you turn round and tell your employer that you are cutting back on your hours? When do you ask for payment for your unscheduled overtime?
Despite a raft of employment laws in the UK the recession is a very difficult time for both employees and employers and while it is essential that everybody pulls together some employers may take this a little too far. On the other hand many people are just happy to be in employment and earning an income when so many around them are struggling to survive.
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