Unions call for action over unpaid overtime
Workers in the North East clocked up almost £870m in unpaid overtime last year, according to a new survey.
Official statistics published by the TUC show that nearly 143,000 people put in an average of 7.6 hours a week in unpaid overtime during 2019.
On average, the TUC say this is the equivalent to having £6,079 taken out of individual pay packets.
The TUC’s 16th annual Work Your Proper Hours Day marks the fact that the average person doing unpaid overtime has effectively worked this year so far for free.
As Britain begins trade negotiations with the EU, the TUC is calling for UK workers’ rights – including the Working Time Directive – to be protected in any deal.
TUC Northern Regional Secretary Beth Farhat said: “The government needs to crack down on Britain’s long hours culture. Too many bosses are getting away with stealing their workers’ time.
“But instead of strengthening protections, ministers want to use Brexit as an excuse to chuck out the limited protections we already have.”
She added: “Overworking staff hurts productivity, leaves workers stressed and exhausted and eats into time that should be spent with family and friends.
“That’s why any EU Trade deal needs to guarantee that employment rights, like those covered by the Working Time Directive, are protected in the future.”
The figures show workers in the North East put in £870m worth of unpaid overtime last year - 57 million unpaid hours in 2019 – with the average person having worked the year so far for free.