UK in unpaid overtime rut

A disturbing normal has transpired after new data from the HR software provider found that while 49% of 1,000 respondents work unpaid overtime, millions of employees are regularly shortening their lunch breaks and finishing late to keep on top of their workload.

Interestingly, of those paid for overtime only 23% worked the extra hours. The unpaid over-timers typically clocked an extra 3 hours each week – working out at around 37 minutes extra per shift over a five-day working week, while 11% of them worked an extra 5 hours per week.

Claire Williams, chief people officer at Ciphr, says, “If an individual thinks they are doing too many unpaid hours, then it’s vital that they address this with their employer as soon as possible. Doing a bit of extra work occasionally is one thing – and it is relatively common practice to work additional hours, at times, to fulfil your role – but feeling like you ‘have’ to do that extra work regularly because it is being expected of you is quite another."

Employees most likely to work the longest unpaid hours include senior managers who averaged 4.1 hours a week, 25-34-year-olds at 3.5 hours, remote workers who clocked 3.5 extra hours, and those working in legal services and education at 4.1 hours and 3.9 hours respectively.

Williams adds, “The reality is that there are upsides, as well as obvious downsides, to people working extra hours. It doesn’t always need to be perceived as a negative and it can – and should – generate goodwill and flexibility from employers in return. Lots of people enjoy their jobs and want to do additional work. Sometimes, though, people simply want to finish what they’ve been working on that day to tick it off their to-do list.”

While many employees are flexible and accept that working a bit over their contracted hours is an expected part of their role, when done too frequently the numbers quickly add up. While 37 minutes a day might not seem like much once in while this is the regular equivalent of 18 additional days a year which most would view as excessive.

“The issues occur when unpaid overtime is both very frequent and excessive,” said Williams, adding “when employees aren’t taking enough breaks and the downtime they need, and when there’s a lack of recognition from an employer that there’s an underlying problem – usually, but not always, workload-related – that needs to be urgently addressed.”

In the survey only 36% of respondents had taken their full lunch break every day and a shocking 23% had barely taken their full lunch break off that week at all.

A pattern of overworking while missing breaks long term, could negatively impact an individual’s health and wellbeing, and cause stress and job burnout. Involuntary overtime, due to staffing issues or unrealistic targets could also lead to employee resentment.

Williams emphasises that the research serves as a good reminder on the importance of keeping track of employees’ working hours to help ensure that people are not working unreasonable hours, but also, to avoid breaching Working Time Regulations. She adds,” If regular overworking is a problem, and employees are raising their concerns, don’t ignore the situation – it’s definitely in an employer’s interest to understand what they can do to help, and make changes where possible, before it impacts an individual’s health and wellbeing, and, ultimately, the wider business.”