Unpaid Overtime

gropingmantis · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:01

Is it ok?

Have been having a few...heated debates, with my gf about this. Where I work we have flexi-time so usually if I work late one day I go home early another day and if I go over my weekly hours, which I have done a few times when I get really into a project and HAVE to complete it, I log my overtime and get extra pay at the end of the month for it.

My gf however regularly works 2-3 hours longer, per day, than her contracted hours so thats a good 10-15 extra hours she does a week but she never logs her overtime.

She says thats just not how it is done "in business" (she works in the private sector, insurance, I work in the public sector). I say that is bull**** and you should be seeking to be reimbursed for your time. I have told her a few times that if she isn't being paid to be there then why doesn't she just get in at 9 and leave at 5 like she is contracted for?

Furthermore other people in her office seem to arrive at 9 and leave at 5 so I am confused as to why my gf a) doesn't want to get paid and b) if she isn't getting paid is staying at work?

Now don't get me wrong I love my job and I will and have happily worked more than my contracted hours its just when I do I feel like I should be paid for it as it is work at the end of the day.

What do you think GD?

INB4:
"Worst I have a gf thread ever"
"Worst I have a job thread ever"
etc etc etc

PMKeates · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:02

It is OK, yes. It is very common for professionals in the private sector who do not have day-to-day work to not get paid overtime.

She should do the work even if she isn't being paid, as if she achieves more she will get more promotions and better pay rises.

NiCkNaMe · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:04

2/3 hours each night? Sounds like she's having a bit of photocopier action to me.

.Lethal · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:04

Personally no.

My wife would say otherwise.

Answer? End of the day it's her decision and you can't change that.

Glaucus · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:05

It's usually in contract to do extra hours if needed or similar. So she is getting paid for it.

2-3hrs a day is way over the top. However if that's normall in the office and she wants to progress, she might not have any choice.

And yes sounds like you are very public sector.
Even in public sector, generally when you hit a certain level overtime is expected on a set salary.

Karl · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:06

NiCkNaMe said:
2/3 hours each night? Sounds like she's having a bit of photocopier action to me.

That's another GD staple that you missed OP...

I don't agree with 2 - 3 hours of additional overtime either. Some places do expect it, and you do have to put your foot down. Some people are willing to do it, and some don't, and some miss out because they're too timid about it.

.Lethal · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:06

PMKeates said:
as if she achieves more she will get more promotions and better pay rises.

The only saving grace.

Yet there are some people who say this who I am quite certain will never get that promotion.

If you don't have the interpersonal skills you're unlikely to get that promotion.

PMKeates · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:06

Glaucus said:
It's usually in contract to do extra hours if needed or similar. So she is getting paid for it.

and this too, yes. My contract contains something like "extra unpaid hours when required by the business".

.Lethal said:
The only saving grace.

Yet there are some people who say this who I am quite certain will never get that promotion.

If you don't have the interpersonal skills you're unlikely to get that promotion.

Certainly, but then you should address that problem, rather than going "oh well" and relegating yourself to a career of mediocrity.

Craig1981 · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:08

Maybe shes angling for a promotion? I'm sure her bosses will appreciate her putting in the extra hours work.

Though personally I wouldnt do it. The moment my shift is over I am outta here!

gropingmantis · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:09

It just feels like the company is taking advantage as she only just started there and everyone else in her office leaves at 5. It is just her and a grad placement girl in the office after 5.

FARGO · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:09

I'm in the same boat with my missus. Sometimes she has to co-ordinate events outside of her 9-5 contract - these usually happen 4 -5 days in a row and end at 7/8 PM.

She's shattered after a couple of days of that. I even have to make my own dinner. It's just not fair.

PMKeates · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:10

gropingmantis said:
It just feels like the company is taking advantage as she only just started there and everyone else in her office leaves at 5. It is just her and a grad placement girl in the office after 5.

If she does well and helps the business, short of having terrible management, she will eventually be rewarded. If she enjoys the job then there's no reason to see it as advantage taking at all.

.Lethal · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:10

PMKeates said:
Certainly, but then you should address that problem, rather than going "oh well" and relegating yourself to a career of mediocrity.

If you can acknowledge it yourself then yes by all means.

If you can't, and refuse to accept that. Then there is no hope of reaching management level.

It's like trying to change your boyfriend or girlfriend, it usually can't be done, frankly it's annoying that I see it in someone who falls into the latter.

paddy · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:11

I work in the private sector as a software developer and wouldn't work longer hours for free.

When I've made it clear projects won't get done because of lack of time bosses have approved overtime, which I've logged/worked and been paid for.

In my experience working extra hours for nowt doesn't get you any further. It just leads to bosses thinking you'll work longer for free.

.Lethal · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:12

paddy said:
It just leads to bosses thinking you'll work longer for free.

That's my view on it as well.

gropingmantis · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:13

PMKeates said:
If she does well and helps the business, short of having terrible management, she will eventually be rewarded. If she enjoys the job then there's no reason to see it as advantage taking at all.

Thats the thing though she doesn't enjoy the job at all. She is constantly applying to other positions in areas she is actually interested in. She only took this job because it was vaguely related to the career path she wishes to take and she needed work experience to get any of those positions.

PMKeates · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:14

paddy said:
In my experience working extra hours for nowt doesn't get you any further. It just leads to bosses thinking you'll work longer for free.

In my experience I haven't come across anyone in senior management who works 9-5 and clocks off unless they get paid more. Moreover, I've never seen anyone be promoted to that level without making the infinite time commitment first.

gropingmantis said:
Thats the thing though she doesn't enjoy the job at all. She is constantly applying to other positions in areas she is actually interested in. She only took this job because it was vaguely related to the career path she wishes to take and she needed work experience to get any of those positions.

When she is working extra is she developing experience and skills faster? I've found that during the normal work hours I'm focussed much more on doing what I already know, yet in the extra I give more time to thinking, planning and experimetning that has ultimately given me experience of things that I wouldn't otherwise have.

Musty Pie · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:14

I was going to pipe up with an "affair" type comment, but I was beaten to it with the photo copier remark.

In all honesty though most things like this are really down to the nature of the company. If she is working hard to prove herself it might be worth it in the long run.

scorza · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:15

2-3 hours of unpaid overtime a night is pushing it imo. At my company (private sector) the overtime policy is that you have to do 7.5 hours a month unpaid before you can get paid overtime. Sometimes you have to do more to get the job done and if it's for a sustained period of time then imo you should be compensated for it. Overtime is a good way of letting ordinary employees share in the success of the business they work for while also recognising the considerable sacrifice made by employees in contributing to that success.

BTW even if it's unpaid overtime your gf should still log it as such. Her employer has a duty of care towards her which includes monitoring of working hours - if she's doing too many they need to know so they can take the appropriate action.

yer_averagejoe · 9 Dec 2011 at 15:18

In some industries thats just the way things work. If I have to do overtime (pretty often) I don't even think about getting reimbursed for it, I'm paid a salary and thats part of the job. Arguably my salary could be higher but thats a whole other kettle of fish.