The TUC is encouraging all UK workers to have a full lunch break and leave work on time this Friday as part of its ‘Work Your Proper Hours Day’ campaign.
More than five million people at work in the UK regularly do unpaid overtime, giving employers 23bn of free work every year, the union umbrella body said.
It has declared that 24 February is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year and starts doing the work they are actually paid for.
“Take a proper lunch break, not just a sandwich at your desk, and leave on time to enjoy your own time on Friday evening. This is one day in the year for your boss to appreciate your efforts, and for you to appreciate yourself,” it said.
The TUC has set up an online unpaid overtime resource, which includes an overtime calculator to enable individuals to work out just how much their unpaid time is worth.
www.worksmart.org.uk/workyourproperhoursday
