News

Half admit to working unpaid overtime, finds study

Image via Shutterstock

More than half (55%) of people admit to regularly working unpaid overtime, with 10% claiming the level of their overtime was equivalent to an extra working day, a lastminute.com study shows.

Britons work an average of 104 hours unpaid overtime every year which, if paid, would add over £800 to the average UK salary – enough time and money to pay for several city breaks.

When asked how they would prefer to use extra time spent at work, half of the 500 people polled said they would most like to go on holiday.

Additional findings include:


  • One in 10 have cancelled a weekend away due to overtime demands and 5% have actually had to abort a full week away

  • A fifth (20%) regularly give up their lunch break to fit in extra work and one in 20 (5%) work the equivalent of an entire weekend in an average week

  • A quarter cancel plans with friends on a regular basis to put in extra hours in the office

  • 15% have aborted holiday plans or weekends away to fulfil additional work needs

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.