British
workers are giving away the equivalent of £23bn of free work every year through
unpaid overtime, according to new research from the TUC.
It
says more than five million workers do unpaid overtime work beyond their
contracted hours, with senior civil servants, teachers and health professionals
top of the list.
The
TUC has named today – 27 February – as WorkYour Proper Hours Day. It claims
this is the date when the average UK employee who works overtime finishes the
40 unpaid days they do every year and starts earning for themselves.
Brendan
Barber, TUC general secretary, said: "We’re not calling on Britain to turn
into a nation of clock-watchers. But too many of the UK’s bosses who depend on
the unpaid overtime of their staff take it for granted and never show their
appreciation."
The
TUC has compiled a new league table allowing workers to compare unpaid
overtime.
