How much unpaid overtime is acceptable

[Lemonwoe]

Just curious. At a salary of £40k, how much unpaid overtime would you expect to do?

Depends on the company, management and my own goals.

Generally though the company I was most willing to work extra overtime generally were very reasonable and flexible so it swung both ways. A company that is all take, none.

I think the crux of it is that overtime seems fine and seen as an investment if rewarded with development, promotion, pay rises and bonuses, as occurs in the private sector.

In the public sector, doing unpaid overtime is unlikely to bring such rewards as the pay scales are set and pay doesn't seem to keep up with inflation so income decreases over time. A promotion to the next grade does not result in a significant pay increase despite extra responsibility. So it can affect morale.

The problem is that a lot of professional jobs don't have any provision for paying overtime and so you get the same salary no matter how many hours you work. This also neatly resolves the employer of any responsibility for evading the working time rules.

So to refuse unpaid overtime would involve a refusal to do work.

@ticketstub

I think the crux of it is that overtime seems fine and seen as an investment if rewarded with development, promotion, pay rises and bonuses, as occurs in the private sector.

In the public sector, doing unpaid overtime is unlikely to bring such rewards as the pay scales are set and pay doesn't seem to keep up with inflation so income decreases over time. A promotion to the next grade does not result in a significant pay increase despite extra responsibility. So it can affect morale.

Aside from if you are a civil servant and are on flexi.

Agree with others that salaried jobs don't attract 'overtime'.

I've never worked my set hours, I am very lucky though in that I've always enjoyed my jobs and genuinely like working . I am currently on a very low salary (p/t hours) but I probably do at least ten hours a week 'unpaid' ... I'm not asked or expected to do it, I do it because I love what I do . And I can choose my hours to suit myself which means lots of flexibility - currently enjoying brunch at home before going into work later!

My DH WFH, senior role around £60k - he easily does at least two hours a day extra ... he's at his desk by 8am and rarely finishes before 6pm, quick 30 minute lunch break. That's the nature of the job in his industry and at his level, it would be laughable to expect 'overtime'. Whether that is right or wrong is a separate argument. He recently started a new role and is well aware at his age (60) jobs like that are not exactly easy to find.

@Neonprint

All the people saying the refuse to do any extra. I'm interested to know how this was viewed in the workplace and if you have still been able to progress your career?

I earn more now than I did when I was (Head of Department/ Teaching) expected to do 20 - 40 hours every week unpaid overtime. More if OFSTED were due in.

My set hours are 35 per week now. If I do more because of business need, I have to record this and take it off as TOIL at the earliest opportunity. Everyone does it so it's part of the culture.

NFP organisation. Absolutely love my job

None.

Yes I have progressed a lot... in my opinion it is looked upon better if you have good time management and you can complete your job in the assigned hours. Obviously, there are times when deadlines needs to be met or the shit hits the fan and then all hands are on deck and you may have to stay on later...but as I say I am paid overtime or I use it as time for time. My workplace values balance, we are encouraged to take our breaks (we get two!) Everyone in my workplace is given a career path and you are encouraged to move on and up in different ways. No one stagnates really. You are always keeping an eye out for who can fill you place and looking to move on or up in some way shape or form.

At entry level in consulting with the Big 4, I did 20-30 hours unpaid a week. Left, burned out, and now do maybe 2 hours extra in the public sector

None. A couple of years ago when my salary worked out at higher than NLW p/h I calculated I could work a maximum of 4 hours per week unpaid overtime.

Now, since I've not had a pay rise, other than NLW, I refuse to do any. I tend to do TOIL if they really need me.

This doesn't happen to me now as I don't work in a toxic workplace. But I have had jobs mainly in the charity sector before I moved to the area I work in now, where the work load is just rediculous. Often because outcomes are over promised and under paid for on projects.

It's well recognise within the organisation that you could do man many extra hours and not achieve what you want to.

Equally my partner working in an arms length gov organisation. The work keeps coming well beyond an individual's capacity. It just takes longer even with extra hours.

So it always makes me laugh when people act like the reason people need to do overtime is because they are poor at time management. It makes me think they maybe haven't had a particularly high pressured job or don't have experience where that sort of significant over capacity workload is the norm.

Zero. I add 15 minutes on to my hours (on e rostering) if im late getting off work. If I work few hours extra or an extra shift it goes as overtime. Im NHS

I never do any additional work. If they want me to then they can pay me for it. Until that happens then it’s not changing.

15 - 20 hours per week, more if needed. I love my job but this past year has been challenging as we are much busier and it has been tough to recruit as those in our industry who have kept their jobs are reluctant to move companies with things as they are. But if I ever need to finish early or start late to work around my family there is no issue whatsoever.

As mentioned, I do an enormous amount of unpaid overtime BUT the flexibility and generous annual leave do make up for it. As long I turn up for my timetabled teaching and any important meetings how and when I do the rest of my job is completely up to me.

It gives me the flexibility to take DS to school, never miss an assembly, book hair appointments when i like, go to the gym at quiet times etc.

Really should be none on a regular basis if the company has sufficient staff and they work effeciently, but then perhaps however much is required to get the job done in really busy periods. In reality I would say most people do 1-2 hours a day on average.

I think one of the reasons teachers tend to do so much for free is that there is no option to take toil or flexi hours - if the school is open you have to be there. And the only people that generally suffer if they don’t do the extra hours are the pupils, not the management or the authority.

I work in a job where some people work very long hours, but I never have. I do think to a certain extent people need to manage themselves better if they don't want to work the extra hours. It's amazing how the world keeps turning if you don't it.

0, nil, zilch, diddly squat, sweet fa.....

I am paid £9ish per hour in a part time role. I do about 30% extra hours each week with no extra pay.

@Vegasbaby2019

I am paid £9ish per hour in a part time role. I do about 30% extra hours each week with no extra pay.

:O So you actually only get paid ~£6.90 an hour then? Are you happy being paid less than minimum wage?

No, but if I don't do it, it doesn't get done, and then it gets worse so...

I do enough extra hours to earn an extra day off as flexi a month to supplement my annual leave. No unpaid.

I'm in a min wage retail job, do around 2-4 unpaid hours per week at a guess.

@covetingthepreciousthings

That is illegal

It’s one thing to work unpaid overtime at a salaried job. There are specific rules that make a job eligible for salary. Some of the same conditions that can make a job salary eligible can also make work unpredictable thus requiring and allowing for overtime.

A minimum wage worker doesn’t have those same conditions. Legally, they don’t have to put up with that variability unpaid precisely because they aren’t being compensated to put up with it.