49% of UK employees clock unpaid overtime
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Around 49% of employees in the United Kingdom (UK) frequently clock unpaid overtime hours.
According to a survey by HR solutions firm Ciphr, only 23% of 1,000 employees receive compensation for additional hours at work.
The study also revealed that the average unpaid overtime is three hours weekly, equating to 37 extra minutes daily. An alarming 11% work an extra five hours without pay every week.
Senior managers, remote workers, those aged 25-34, and individuals in legal and educational sectors are notable contributors, clocking 4.1, 3.5, 3.5, 4.1, and 3.9 extra hours respectively.
Many are unaware of this accumulation, potentially leading an average worker to give an additional 18 days or 139 hours annually.
Regarding break times, just 36% said that they are taking a full lunch break, while 23% barely took any break.
Ciphr Chief People Office Clair Williams said, “Doing a bit of extra work occasionally is one thing – and it is relatively common practice to work additional hours, at times, to fulfill your role – but feeling like you ‘have’ to do that extra work regularly because it is being expected of you is quite another.”
Williams also urged employers to address issues like overwhelming workloads to safeguard employees’ health and business productivity.
In a separate survey, Ciphr also revealed that women employees in the UK are less inclined to request a pay increase despite the escalating cost of living in the country. The findings point to a “gender ask gap,” where women expect or accept lower wages than their male counterparts, worsening the gender pay disparity.
