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Five million work a day a week unpaid

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Five million work a day a week unpaid

Nearly five million employees worked on average an extra day a week in unpaid overtime in 2005 according to a TUC analysis of official figures. If each employee worked all their unpaid overtime at the beginning of the year, the TUC estimates they would have worked for free and would not start to get paid until Friday 24 February 2006 - this year's 'Work Your Proper Hours Day'. The TUC's analysis of the government's latest Labour Force Survey found that 4,759,000 workers, or 19.4 per cent of employees, worked an average of 7 hours 24 minutes in unpaid overtime each week. The TUC research shows employers are starting to tackle the UK's long hours culture. The percentage of people working at least an extra hour a week unpaid has fallen slightly, and is now at its lowest level since 1992. TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, said: 'Millions are still putting in up to an extra day a week for free, but there are now some welcome signs that some employers are beginning to realise that endless hours of unpaid overtime are often a sign of an inefficient workplace and not something to celebrate.' He added that in smart workplaces, people work fewer hours. 'The run up to 'Work Your Proper Hours Day' is a great opportunity for bosses to show staff that they want to start tackling their long hours culture. And on the day itself managers can say thanks for their staff's hard work by taking them out for a coffee or a cocktail.'

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