The TUC has calculated that 27 February 2009 is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime starts earning for themselves. Called Work Your Proper Hours Day, it figures that the five million people in the UK who regularly do unpaid overtime work for nothing until that date.
It suggests that 27 February is one day in the year for workers to make the most of their own time. They advise people to take a proper lunch break and leave work on time to enjoy Friday evening, and suggest a three point plan for having a great Work Your Proper Hours Day:
1. Tackle the long hours problem
Long hours are not good for people; they cause stress; they're bad for health; they wreck relationships; they make caring for children or dependents more difficult; and tired, burnt-out staff are bad for business.
People do long hours for a variety of very different reasons. They suggest visiting their long hours clinic to give you tailored advice to fit your own situation or find out more about the UK's long hours culture by going onto the website.
2. Calculate your own pay day
Work Your Proper Hours Day for 2009 will be 27 February, but your own pay day may come earlier or later, depending on the hours you work above your contracted hours. Use their online unpaid overtime calculator to find out when you can celebrate paying off your long hours’ debt.
3. Spread the word
Help get the word out by sending friends an e-card, downloading some colourful posters for the office or linking to the TUC site from your own sites.
To find out more about Work Your Proper Hours Day, go to:
www.worksmart.org.uk/workyourproperhoursday/