At what salary would you consider unpaid overtime acceptable?

[glowingstars]

I’ve recently noticed my colleagues (in office-based, annual salary type roles) are now being much stricter about leaving on time i.e. only working their contracted hours. And if they do end up working late in order to meet a particular deadline, they’re much more likely to ask for time off in lieu at a later point, and managers are agreeing to this.

Obviously this is no bad thing! But it’s a noticeable shift from 2-3 years ago when unpaid overtime was seen as an expected part of the role.

All of these people earn above average salaries, I would guess between 35k and 75k.

It got me thinking, is there a salary point at which you’d consider a) some or b) a lot of unpaid overtime is acceptable? So for example some unpaid overtime should be expected at 50k and a lot at 100k?

Obviously I know this won’t bear much resemblance to how it actually works in the real world (for example I know that teachers do a lot of unpaid overtime and don’t earn high salaries) but I just thought it would be interesting to hear thoughts!

Wow,

Just retired as a partner in a legal aid family firm Scotland. Maximum earnings 30k, once. Average, 🤔20k. Worked 20 hours a day, had miracle baby, never, ever going back. Ever

I've been doing extra hours for a while, my full time salary would be 70k but I was part time essentially doing a full time job. I increased my hours! I work the hours I need to to get what needs doing done, but I realised as a part timer I might as well get paid for working those hours as my job description is the same as a full timer so I formally applied to work the extra hours. On higher salaries it does feel like nitpicking but it's very easy to fall into the trap of working more than you should be and it creates an unrealistic expectation of others who may not be able to work a few extra hours.

£80k

Teachers on burgundy book contracts don't work unpaid overtime, because working hours aren't specified, only directed time, which is different.

33 years in ( various) public sector jobs and not a high flyer. Never been able to claim overtime, always worked way more then contracted hours even when DC were small but take flexi leave when required otherwise life just unmanageable. I’m aware of the huge benefit that comes with public sector employment - the pension - but I am cumulatively burnt out.

All of my contracts have said that I need to work ‘the hours required to perform my role’. I have never had paid overtime or time off in lieu. Same for my DH.

I work for just above minimum wage, in the charity sector. I get paid for 16 hours a week, but they also probably get a further 4 hours unpaid out of me too. I just don't have enough hours to do all I need to do, so I have little choice.

Luckily I love my job!

I have a role which involves periodic (planned) evening meetings, for which I have variously been paid for or given TOIL.

In terms of general extra hours working - in my industry if it's all going well and seems under control, you'll be given more work. I am fairly strict about protecting my and my team's non working hours; I chase them off the computer if I see they're on frequently or significantly after hours and although I mostly eat my lunch at my desk and rarely log off at exactly 5.30, it's 30 mins either way rather than hours. I also NEVER logged in on a Friday (which I wasn't being paid for) - my team had my personal number if there was an emergency.

I have upped my hours to 4.5 days a week and now I'm finding it much harder to log off at lunchtime as I'm always trying to get one more thing done. It is my New Year's resolution to stop working the extra hours for free unless absolutely necessary. I've set an alarm!

I believe in minimum wage = minimum effort so the more I get paid the I give a shit.
I wouldn't stay a second over my hours if I wasn't getting paid, my time isn't free and how dare employers expect freebies? Pay for the time if you want it I don't expect free desert in a restaurant because I paid for starters, drinks and mains.

@TheFallenMadonna very true (makes it feel worse somehow!)
However, working beyond a standard 35-40 hours a week, regardless of whether or not hours are specified, surely counts as unpaid overtime in spirit if not in law?

I would not work more than 15 mins or so over my contracted hours if I wasn't either getting paid OT or TOIL, I do not work for free.

Luckily I can claim either in my role. But if I couldn't then I would down tools once I had worked my contracted hours

I used to work doing admin in a healthcare setting and earned just above minimum wage. I used to do unpaid overtime else the patients would suffer. More fool me! (And one reason why I left when I discovered it counted fir nothing).

Many contracts in professional roles say that you must work ‘the hours required to perform your role’, so it’s not always that clear cut.

Depends on industry and company norms and I wouldn’t work for a company where it was expected
I earn +£40k and don’t work beyond my contracted hours

work life balance is encouraged at my work and working more than your hours would lead to conversations about managing your workload more effectively it wouldn’t be seen as a good sign

And I wish more companies were like that

100k

I was a teacher for many years and gave so much of my own time, money, heart and soul to the job.

I got out several years ago and now work in a public sector job earning £60k and have no unpaid working at all. It's brilliant!

Well done you! What do you do??!!

As a teacher, the job is pretty much impossible without doing work in your own time. When I was employed for 3 days a week I easily worked the equivalent of 4, if not more!

Exactly this!

I'm an academic. I could work to contract but then I wouldn't produce any research because all my hours would be taken up with teaching and administration and you only really get promoted on research outputs, so it's standard to work about 60 hours a week as standard in my department.

Thank you for giving a number! I was expecting a lot more posts like this - the thread hasn’t turned out how I was expecting 😂

I guess it’s not actually a straightforward question.

I think it depends on your level of responsibility.
Once you are legally responsible for other people's salaries and 'keeping the lights on' you'll work whatever hours.
I earn around 100k and work whatever hours I need to.
After around 80k I think this holds true.
That said, I was always of a 'committed, don't count the hours mindset' and I do thing this has in part contributed to where I am now career-wise.
You cannot, no matter what they say (and I've heard it all) work minimal hours in corporate life, and go far up the chain. You just don't. So those people who are earning 40k but who work their asses off in a corporate environment will, more often than not, go much further and outearn those who don't. Just my experience.

If the boss is reasonable then I am flexible with my hours. If they are a right pain, I stick to my contracted hours.

It depends on lots of things

Is the job flexible
Are they happy for you to take time out of the working day for personal stuff (not just emergencies)
Do you enjoy the job
Are they appreciative
Can you do it
Do you have to do it as part of the day job
Is it by exception

Totally this. I remember working my butt off in a role and then working out when I worked out my salary based on my hours I wasn't even doing minimum wage. Unfortunately that's the culture in many places if you want to get ahead. It's a pity there's no balance. Then on the other hand you get colleagues who take the piss and never go the extra mile, and never work any extra hours (or even the hours they're paid!) To meet an urgent deadline.
I've always worked extra no matter what the pay as I've always been in roles where I wanted to be recognised as part of my career development