Unpaid overtime

TUC analysis of the annual Labour Force Survey shows that although the number of workers who worked unpaid overtime fell in 2009 to 5.07 million (a drop of 168,000), the number of hours each person worked were the highest ever recorded. Staff worked average overtime of seven hours and 12 minutes a week, worth £5,402 a year, an increase in value of £263 from 2008.

The total value of overtime worked in 2009 was £27.4 billion. The biggest rises in value of unpaid overtime worked were in London, the North West and North East, each with increases of almost £500 on 2008. If all unpaid overtime was worked from the start of the year, staff would only be paid from 26 February. The TUC has declared this date Work Your Proper Hours Day.