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Overtime

Employers commonly ask employees to work overtime to carry out work outside normal hours, for example because of an increased volume of regular work, a temporary crisis in resourcing, or to cover for absences. One area of controversy is the treatment of overtime in holiday pay calculations (Lock v British Gas Trading Ltd).

Employees can be forced to work overtime, whether paid or unpaid, only if this is provided for in their contract of employment. However, it is common practice for employees to work unpaid overtime from time to time, to meet the reasonable requirements of the business.

Employers must bear in mind when asking employees to work overtime the maximum 48-hour working week under the Working Time Regulations 1998. An opt-out is available if the employee agrees.


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    by Adam McCulloch 8 Nov 2019

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    by Ashleigh Webber 16 Sep 2019

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    by Ashleigh Webber 12 Sep 2019
    by Ashleigh Webber 12 Sep 2019

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    Consultation into NHS pensions flexibility launched

    by Ashleigh Webber 12 Sep 2019
    by Ashleigh Webber 12 Sep 2019

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    • Rest periods
    • NHS
    • HR software

    Court of Appeal: Junior doctor wins rest break test case

    by Rob Moss 31 Jul 2019
    by Rob Moss 31 Jul 2019

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    • Police
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    by Jo Faragher 10 Jul 2019
    by Jo Faragher 10 Jul 2019

    The government has announced plans to improve wellbeing for frontline police.

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    by Brightmine 2 Jul 2019

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    • Education
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    by Ashleigh Webber 20 Jun 2019
    by Ashleigh Webber 20 Jun 2019

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    • Case law
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    • Holidays and holiday pay

    Include regular voluntary overtime in holiday pay, judge rules

    by Ashleigh Webber 10 Jun 2019
    by Ashleigh Webber 10 Jun 2019

    Employers must now consider any voluntary overtime that is taken regularly in holiday pay calculations

    • NHS
    • Latest News
    • Retirement

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    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Jun 2019
    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Jun 2019

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    • Rest periods
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    by Ashleigh Webber 15 May 2019

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    by Ashleigh Webber 17 Apr 2019

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    • Case law
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    • Employment tribunals

    Holland & Barrett employee wins overtime case for opening and closing up

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    by Ashleigh Webber 9 Apr 2019

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    • Latest News
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    Unpaid hours and presenteeism blight UK workforce

    by Adam McCulloch 5 Apr 2019
    by Adam McCulloch 5 Apr 2019

    UK employees work an average of 6.3 hours per week without pay, a new report has found, just as employers must start adding more information about time worked to payslips.

    • Latest News
    • Public sector
    • Pensions

    High Court rules that firefighters’ extra hours are pensionable

    by Jo Faragher 3 Apr 2019
    by Jo Faragher 3 Apr 2019

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