Celebrate 'Work Your Proper Hours Day' at your workplace on 22 February

Nearly five million people are putting in an average of over seven hours unpaid overtime a week. That's nearly £5,000 of work given away per person to employers every year. If you worked all your unpaid overtime at the start of the year, 22 February would be the first day you'd get paid, which is why the TUC have named this date 'Work Your Proper Hours Day'. The TUC are calling on people to mark this day by turning up for work on time, taking a proper lunch break and leaving when you're meant to.

What can you do in the run up to 'Work Your Proper Hours Day'?

Spread the word to colleagues, friends and family. Encourage people to participate and order posters and postcards for their workplaces. You can order up to 100 each for free from the website www.workyourproperhoursday.com.

This year, the TUC are scouring the country to find the best and worst workplaces for unpaid overtime. From Tuesday 12 February, a new interactive quiz on the website will help you to find out if your workplace is afflicted with the unpaid overtime bug and rate your workplace for managing your hours. We'll put your workplace on our new unpaid overtime map of Britain. Let us know your experiences on our rant blog and we'll post the best messages.

If you've know of any enlightened employers or downright slave drivers when it comes to unpaid overtime and long hours let the TUC press office know as we're looking for media case studies.

What can you do on 'Work Your Proper Hours Day'?

Simply arriving at work on time, taking a proper lunch break and leaving on time on 22 February is a big statement for the five million people who regularly do unpaid overtime.

If you're keen to do more, there are loads of ways to celebrate 'Work Your Proper Hours Day', such as going out for a meal with colleagues at lunchtime or office drinks after work. The TUC social club are organising a lunchtime quiz for staff.

Need more info?

Go to www.workyourproperhoursday.com or speak to Rob Holdsworth in the TUC press office on 020 7467 1372.

Briefing document (400 words) issued 11 Feb 2008