Are you working extra hours at work for free? (Picture: Getty)

What time did you leave the office last night? How late will you be in today?

And do you get any extra cash, let alone a ‘thank-you’?

Well, if it’s any comfort, you’re not alone in working well over your contracted hours for nothing.

In fact, an estimated 5million people worked extra hours without being paid last year, at an average cost of £5,600 per person, adding £28.3billion to the economy, said the TUC.


One in five workers is regularly putting in seven hours of unpaid overtime every week.

Teachers, legal professionals, finance managers and many in media and health are working more than their contracted hours for no extra pay.



‘A significant part of the nearly 2billion hours of unpaid overtime worked every year could be wiped out by smarter management practices,’ said Frances O’Grady, head of the TUC.

‘A long-hours culture is bad for workers’ health and their family life – whether the hours are paid or not.’