Employees work an extra day for free in unpaid overtime

A staggering 90,000 extra jobs could be created from the amount of unpaid overtime worked last year in the South West.

According to the TUC, workers in the region worked an extra 165,765 million hours for free, adding up to an extra working day every week for no pay.

The union is concerned that the excessive overtime hours not only hurts job creation, but forces staff to work long hours risking their health.

Regional Secretary of the South West TUC, Nigel Costley said: “But while many of the extra unpaid hours worked could easily be reduced by changing work practices and ending the UK’s culture of pointless presenteeism, a small number of employers are exploiting staff by regularly forcing them to do excessive amounts of extra work for no extra pay.

“This attitude is not only bad for workers’ health, it’s bad for the economy too as it reduces productivity and holds back job creation.

“No-one wants to see us to become a nation of clock-watchers. But a more sensible and grown up attitude to working time could cut out needless unpaid hours and help more people into work.”