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22nd February 2007

NEWS IN BRIEF

Work Your Proper Hours Day

The TUC has calculated that 23 February 2007 is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime starts earning for themselves. Called Work Your Proper Hours Day, they figure that the five million people in the UK who regularly do unpaid overtime work for nothing until that date.

They suggest that 23 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. Spread the word

Help get the word out by sending friends an e-card, sending the boss an anonymous boss-a-gram, or by printing or ordering some colourful posters for the office.

2. 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 taking an online quiz to diagnose where the problem is, and then get some tips on tackling it, or find out more about the UK's long hours culture by going onto the website.

3. When's your day?

Work Your Proper Hours Day for 2007 will be 23 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.

To find out more about Work Your Proper Hours Day, go to: www.worksmart.org.uk/workyourproperhoursday/

Also this week

Regulating dismissal

Time passes