Extreme unpaid overtime increasing

A TUC analysis of official figures to mark Work your Proper Hours Day on 26 February 2010 showed that the number of people working “extreme” unpaid overtime of more than 10 hours a week increased by 14,000 to nearly 900,000 last year. Teachers and lawyers clocked up the most unpaid overtime, with around one in five working an extra 17 hours of free work a week.

Christine Blower, general secretary of the teachers’ union NUT said: “The findings of the survey confirm what we already know. Teachers are working unacceptably long hours and the pressure to do so remains as a result of the endless initiatives and pressures that are now the hallmark of our schools. It’s clear that the workforce remodelling agreement has made no impact on the work-life balance for teachers. There is also a clear link between working too many hours and the high stress levels amongst teachers. It is vitally important that the government addresses this issue and takes its duty of care seriously.”