Re: FWD: Overtime

[Damien Braniff <Damien_Braniff -at- PAC -dot- CO -dot- UK>]

Here in the UK people are generally either paid for overtime (rate
depending on when - week, weekend etc) or get time off in lieu
(occasionally both!).  The aim is to work to live, not the other way
around.  Most people I know are quite happy to work overtime occasionally -
every job has deadlines and sometimes it's necessary to work extra to meet
those deadlines.  It's when it becomes accepted as "normal" that you work a
50hr week etc that it becomes a problem.  Even here where you're paid it
sometimes used as an excuse for lower wages - after all you can do the
overtime to get the money.

Where I am now there is (generally) paid overtime for production (required
occasionally to meet large orders etc).  Everywhere else work flexi time
where you can have up to 2 days a month off as long as you do the hours.
It's a very flexible system (as long as nobody abuses it) with the company
working to keep good relations with staff.  Long lunches, late arrivals etc
are tolerated because people DO work the hours.  If there is a specific
requirement for longer time overtime then, in the past, the company has
negotiated to pay overtime in those situations.

Personally I dislike working overtime (sometimes take work home if
required) as I've better things to do.  One place I worked I clocked up
130+ hours overtime in one month but my better half claime she never saw me
for the month!  Still, the money was nice at the end of it all (what the
tax man left!!)

Damien Braniff
Technical Author
PAC International