Three out of five employers have taken steps to cut back on paid overtime over the past two years, the research shows.
Of these, 77% have tried to exert tighter managerial controls, or have implemented more efficient technology and working practices (61%). New shift patterns have also been widely adopted (55%).
But far fewer employers (3%) have tried to tackle the problem of excessive overtime head on by cutting back on the premium they pay.
Although more than nine out of 10 (92%) of employers permit paid overtime, and many are concerned at the amount of paid overtime worked, just one in three (37%) calculates their annual overtime spend.
