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22 February 2006 - TUC Work Your Proper
Hours Day
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Once again, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) are campaigning
against working unpaid overtime, by organising a Work Your Proper Hours Day,
which this year falls on Friday, 24 February 2006.
Employees who regularly work unpaid hours, are asked to take
tea-breaks away from their workstations, lunch breaks and to finish work on time
on Friday.
There are over 5million UK workers who regularly work unpaid
overtime, which could lead to ill-health, stress and lower productivity.
The Work Your Proper Hours Day is intended to let workers
reflect upon the stresses and strains unpaid overtime can create for themselves,
their families and friends and their work output.
TUC official figures show the following:
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Employers are starting to tackle the UK's long hours culture.
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The percentage of people working at least an extra hour a week
unpaid has fallen slightly, and is now at its lowest level since 1992 (19.4 per
cent).
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There are still 600,000 more people working unpaid overtime than
in 1992 this is a half million fall from the first 'Work Your Proper Hours Day'
in 2003, when 5,217,000 worked extra hours for free.
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The official figures also show that employees in small
workplaces were the least likely to work unpaid overtime.
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Londoners put in the longest hours.
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Those doing unpaid overtime put in an extra 8 hours 12 minutes
in a week.
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Second longest hours were in Wales, where workers put in 7 hours
48 minutes.
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Northern Ireland were just behind at 7 hours 36 minutes.
Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary said:
"Millions are still putting in up to an extra day a week for
free, but there are now some welcome signs that some employers are beginning to
realise that endless hours of unpaid overtime are often a sign of an inefficient
workplace and not something to celebrate.
"We don't want to turn into a nation of clock watchers. Most people enjoy their
jobs, and don't mind putting in extra effort when there's a rush or an
emergency, but that easily turns into the long hours culture of extra hours
every week.
"But in smart workplaces, people work fewer hours. The run up to "Work Your
Proper Hours Day" is a great opportunity for bosses to show staff that they want
to start tackling their long hours culture. And on the day itself managers can
say thanks for their staff's hard work by taking them out for a coffee or a
cocktail."
The TUC have provided a fun on-line quiz which will allow
employees to find out whether they be "desk junkies", "stay late sheep", or any
of the other five types of "over-worker". Once the long hour problem
is diagnosed, the employee will be provided with tailored advice.
The quiz and other information on the Work Your Proper Hours Day
can be accessed by clicking the following:
workSMART - What's your problem quiz
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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