Australians continue to work overtime for free 3-24 11th March 2008

The majority of Australians continue to put in extra hours at work only to receive no extra money, with 79 percent claiming they are not being paid for overtime, a NEWS.com.au survey has revealed.

The survey of 3141 respondents also found: 

• Three out of four employees who worked overtime did so as they had no choice but to finish the work.

• People on AWA contracts said they had less choice than other employees to work overtime.

• Professionals were more likely to say they were not paid for overtime (84 percent) compared to non-professionals (52 percent).

• Of those who worked overtime, on average they worked an extra 10.5 hours in one week, up one hour from the last survey conducted in May 2007.

• Of those who did work overtime and received compensation for their extra work, the most common form of compensation was time off in lieu (61 percent) while another 44 percent were paid in cash.

• Employees who are paid more, worked more overtime than employees who are paid less.

• Three quarters of respondents said that overtime cut the amount of time spent with family and friends. One in five respondents said their family life was less happy as a result of working overtime.

• Employers are reluctant to allow workers to conduct overtime from home, with 62 percent of those surveyed saying their employer does not allow them to take the work home to complete.

Nicki Bourlioufas, business editor from NEWS.com.au says it is a reality in the workplace that more and more employees are working harder for their employers and not being paid for it. 

“We are working overtime largely because we have to, not because we want to, and as a result, employees are feeling stressed, unhappy and are spending less time with their families and friends.”