Half-a-million work without pay

MANY Warrington people are among almost half-a-million across the North West who are working overtime for no extra pay.
If they had been paid, they would each have earned £4,976 extra a year, according to a North West TUC analysis of official statistics.
The “Shortchanged Study” shows that 469,000 people across the region regularly worked unpaid overtime last year.
In the North West, 388,726 people worked between 1-10 hours overtime every week for which they did not receive an extra penny. Another 80,251 worked more than 10 hours overtime unpaid every week.
Workers in the North West are second only to London for chalking up the biggest rise in unpaid overtime (+£492).
With many employers and staff agreeing to cut hours in order to avoid job losses, the reduction in working time has had a knock on effect on the number of people working paid and unpaid overtime, the TUC says.
The TUC has declared February 26 “Work Your Proper Hours Day” and will call on bosses to thank staff for the extra work they are putting in to help businesses through the recession.
TUC regional secretary Alan Manning said: “The recession has forced many employees to do less paid hours in an effort to save jobs. Many are working overtime unpaid instead.
“This flexibility and the sacrifices made by staff has saved jobs and kept companies afloat. Bosses should thank staff for the extra effort they are putting in to help their business through the recession.
“But millions of people are still working far too many hours – and not being paid for it. This long hours culture causes stress and damages people’s health.
“Employers shouldn’t forget that working cultures such as pointless presenteeism – which keeps people at their desks for no good reason – is not just bad for staff, but bad for business too.”