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Overtime rates (unfair for part/time workers?

38 replies

whatthehellisthisrate · 06/12/2024 10:16

What do you think about this below
Is it fair?
Is it a common practice in companies?

According to the contract

1.	Overtime is paid at the usual hourly rate for hours worked up to the standard full-time hours of 37.5 hours per week.
2.	Any hours worked beyond 37.5 hours per week are paid at 1.5 times the usual hourly rate (time-and-a-half).

This policy applies to all employees, regardless of whether they are part-time or full-time. However, it effectively means that part-time workers must first work additional hours to meet the full-time threshold before qualifying for the time-and-a-half rate. Full-time workers, on the other hand, earn time-and-a-half as soon as they exceed 37.5 hours in a week.

OP posts:
Usedphone · 06/12/2024 10:17

I've always been of the idea, if it's beyond your contracted hours, it should be classified as overtime. As simple as that

Norma27 · 06/12/2024 10:18

Of course that’s fair and standard practice.
Everybody gets paid time and half after working a standard full time week.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 06/12/2024 10:22

Of course it's fair if you can take on more than your part time hours as overtime then you can increase your hours. Otherwise everyone would want to work part time and get paid overtime.

I know someone who does this though, works part time during the week and chooses to do overtime on Sundays for double pay. It's wrong but the la allow it

Lilacbloomers · 06/12/2024 10:23

That’s the policy where I work too

MustardGlass · 06/12/2024 10:24

It’s fair and standard practise.

Ratfinkstinkypink · 06/12/2024 10:24

It's been the policy in every job I have ever worked in.

Usedphone · 06/12/2024 10:25

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 06/12/2024 10:22

Of course it's fair if you can take on more than your part time hours as overtime then you can increase your hours. Otherwise everyone would want to work part time and get paid overtime.

I know someone who does this though, works part time during the week and chooses to do overtime on Sundays for double pay. It's wrong but the la allow it

But what if the employer only needs extra labour temporarily?

MrRobinsonsQuango · 06/12/2024 10:25

Not common practice where l work. Overtime paid at standard rate over 37.5 hours and then is basic rate taxed. Managers then wonder why people won’t do extra hours 🤣🤣🤣

Hayley1256 · 06/12/2024 10:27

This has been standard practice for all the companies I've worked at. Part time staff only get overtime rate once they have worked full time hours

pinkdelight · 06/12/2024 11:03

So both part time and full time staff get the increased rate at the same point. I don't see what's unfair about that. It'd be unfair for a worker who did two days to get the higher rate for a third day, when full time workers work five days at the basic rate. The perk of part time is surely working less. Their extra hours aren't intrinsically more valuable.

Undisclosedlocation · 06/12/2024 11:08

Look at it from the other viewpoint.
Imagine you are the full time worker…..a part timer working 20 hours a week agrees to do an extra day and is paid time and a half.
They still do less hours than you, but get a better hourly rate!

Wouldn’t seen quite so ‘fair’ then, would it?

110APiccadilly · 06/12/2024 11:08

Presumably it's to stop people gaming the system, e.g. by having a four day contract but always working five?

RonSel · 06/12/2024 11:08

That's the NHS policy.
If you're part time any hours up to full time are just paid as extra hours at the normal rate. Everyone hits overtime rate at the same point so it's the fairest

SmalllChange · 06/12/2024 11:10

Yes it's completely fair and I say that as a part-time worker, who often does extra hours and submits a time sheet at the end of the month.

EmmaMaria · 06/12/2024 11:10

It is fair, it is lawful, and it is very commopn practice. If you want to work more hours, don't work part-time. Why would it be fair to have full time workers on 40 hours who are paid less per hour than the part-time worker for hours 16 - 40?

Microgal · 06/12/2024 11:13

Undisclosedlocation · 06/12/2024 11:08

Look at it from the other viewpoint.
Imagine you are the full time worker…..a part timer working 20 hours a week agrees to do an extra day and is paid time and a half.
They still do less hours than you, but get a better hourly rate!

Wouldn’t seen quite so ‘fair’ then, would it?

This all over!!

Doggymummar · 06/12/2024 11:13

Yes, I did use to feel sorry for the part timers. But has always been so.

MJMJMJMJ · 06/12/2024 11:15

I can’t believe anyone would question this! It makes no sense to pay part timers overtime until they have worked the equivalent full time hours.

Have you ever ran a business?

ShanghaiDiva · 06/12/2024 11:16

Undisclosedlocation · 06/12/2024 11:08

Look at it from the other viewpoint.
Imagine you are the full time worker…..a part timer working 20 hours a week agrees to do an extra day and is paid time and a half.
They still do less hours than you, but get a better hourly rate!

Wouldn’t seen quite so ‘fair’ then, would it?

Exactly!

MJMJMJMJ · 06/12/2024 11:18

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

redwinebluecheese · 06/12/2024 11:23

This is standard and totally fair.
Having it your way would probably destroy the business.

AstonishingMouse · 06/12/2024 11:27

I can see this both ways. Using the NHS as an example:
If I worked part-time and stayed late after my 12 hour shift because I had particularly sick patients and the manager requested my help even though this was at personal inconvenience and I was exhausted, it would seem fair to pay more than the standard hourly rate in line with full-time employees.
If I worked part-time and did an extra shift at a time that suited me because I wanted a bit of extra money, then it would seem fair to pay the standard hourly rate until full-time hours were reached.
I've been in both positions. Overall, I think it's probably a reasonable rule.

SmalllChange · 06/12/2024 11:31

Doggymummar · 06/12/2024 11:13

Yes, I did use to feel sorry for the part timers. But has always been so.

Why feel sorry for us?

I get to choose to do extra hours on top of my contracted ones, submit a time sheet and have more money at the end of the month.

I'm baffled as to why you think that's worthy of sympathy?

rwalker · 06/12/2024 12:07

Of course it’s fair everyone paid the same rates irrespective of of how many hours they are contracted for
never been any different with ever employer I’ve worked for

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 06/12/2024 15:02

Absolutely equitable practice.