Unions track spike in overtime

27/02/2009

Job loss fears are driving British employees to work hours in unpaid overtime, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has indicated.

According to the group, other workers were finding it difficult to find extra hours as firms cut budgets in the current economic downturn.

The proportion of employees doing unpaid work was found by the TUC to have risen by 2.4 per cent for workers in research and development and by 1.5 per cent for those in finance.

However, insurance, pensions and agriculture workers were found to be doing significantly fewer unpaid hours.

The TUC added that excessive working hours can lead to stress, "burn out" and loss of productivity in staff.

General secretary Brendan Barber added: "The recession is bringing new pressure for people to work unpaid overtime.

"Workers in some industries are racking up the hours to complete the job quicker. But elsewhere work is drying up and workers do not have enough work to fill normal hours, let alone overtime."

Kevin Still, EuroDebt director, added: “It is inevitable that employees facing job security concerns or wanting to support their employers, especially small businesses, that there may be loss of income in terms of paid overtime.

"This has been a key factor in people approaching us for debt advice and on-going support where the loss of income causes major problems in the household finances. The TUC figures don’t appear to reflect any exploitation of the workforce, more the reality that both employers and employees are having to make sacrifices to keep businesses and jobs afloat.”

Official figures show that unemployment in the UK has risen to 1.97 million.

Many analysts expect this total to rise to around three million this year, as the recession wears on.

Tags; Young Family Finances, Job loss, Recent Graduate Debt,

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