By Will Sturgeon, 21 February 2005 11:55
NEWS The UK Trades Union Congress has once more hit out at employers who abuse their authority to keep staff chained to their workstations long outside their contracted hours.
Unpaid overtime is reaching such levels now that the TUC claims the average UK worker is doing almost two months of unpaid work each year, worth £4,650 on average with IT workers among the worst hit.
In response the TUC is striking a blow for the put-upon with a system to enable staff to inform their bosses of the liberties they are taking.
This coming Friday (25 February) is Work Your Proper Hours Day. The date is chosen because the total number of unpaid hours worked in the UK means that on average staff would have thus far worked free of charge if their unpaid hours all fell at the start of the year.
To mark the occasion, visitors to the TUC Work Smart website are able to send anonymous messages to their bosses suggesting a little more appreciation of that fact might be nice. Employees are also being encouraged to take their full, entitled lunch break and to leave on time.
The message, which will be delivered on Friday morning, will read: "Morning, Boss! Someone in your team has asked us to let you know that it's Work Your Proper Hours Day today. 25 February is on average the first day that people who do unpaid overtime would get paid if they did all their extra hours at the start of the year."
Paul Sellers, TUC policy officer, told silicon.com the emails are intended as "a fun way to start the debate". However, he urged bosses to take the underlying message very seriously.
Sellers believe companies will soon feel the ill-effects of not doing so.
"We're reaching a tipping point with this issue," he said. "There are record numbers of people in work now and more and more people aren't going to settle simply for having a job. They are going to look for a job which suits their needs and which they enjoy. Working time is something people really care about and getting a sensible work-life balance will become more of a factor for UK workers."
"Working long hours can affect people's health, put a strain on their home life and on their family," added Sellers.
Comments
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1. Chris
Flexible Working Works
A lot of the problems stem from the fact that there is a percieved need for IT professionals to be around during the 9-5 period when in fact the actual need for them to be around to do their job arises outside of those hours. If you're one of the backroom boys then it's easier to do your job when others aren't doing theirs. Instead you have to work this day period and then the evening hours are stuck on top.
Flexitime for IT staff works much better, especially when it's managed well as this means that when you have a late night there's no guilt about leaving an hour early for the next few days.
It shows an appreciation for staff who are willing to put themselves out by coming in outside of normal business hours to do their job and we all know that these intangibles are the things keep staff happy and loyal.
2. leveebreaks
I totally agree with Chris. My firm allow me to work 7:00am to 2:30pm and my colleague starts at 9:30 and works until 5:30.
The staggered hours really suit, and I can tackle server maintenance at a time when there is a low impact to the users.
The other benefit (for the firm) is that I'm unlikely to leave - there's no chance of me getting these hours anywhere else!!!
3. Dean Stone
Hmm most companies these days do expect you to work more than your normal 9-5 hours. If my company if network collapsed that I look after would I go home just because it's not my hours?
Also another good reason for employers to employ someone on a work visa from india who wouldnt dream of complaining about the extra work.