UK workers put in £31 billion worth of unpaid overtime last year, effectively working for free for the first two months of the year, according to new analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
An estimated 3.8 million workers regularly worked beyond their contracted hours without pay, averaging 7.2 extra unpaid hours per week — equivalent to around £8,000 in lost wages per person per year.
The findings come as part of the TUC’s 16th annual Work Your Proper Hours Day, observed on Friday 28 February 2025, which marks the point in the year when the average worker doing unpaid overtime would start getting paid if they had been compensated for those extra hours.
Teachers and Public Sector Workers Hit Hardest
The TUC analysis found that teachers, health and social care workers, and public sector employees are disproportionately affected by unpaid overtime.
- Teachers put in more unpaid hours than any other profession, with an average of 11.7 extra hours per week — the equivalent of nearly one and a half extra days of work per week without pay.
- Health and social care managers follow closely behind, averaging 11.1 unpaid hours per week.
- Public sector workers across various industries made up a significant portion of those working unpaid overtime, reflecting growing concerns about staff shortages, funding cuts, and unsustainable workloads.
The TUC says that millions of workers are putting in unpaid hours because bosses are taking advantage of them, expecting extra work without proper compensation.
“Nobody minds putting in extra effort when there’s a rush on, but it’s become the norm for too many workers,” General Secretary Paul Nowak said. “We need managers to think about how work is organised and make sure people are not being expected to do more for less.”
“Most workers don’t mind putting in extra hours from time to time, but they should be paid for it,” General Secretary Paul Nowak said. “This analysis shows once again the staffing pressures in our public services that have been driven by 14 years of Tory mismanagement. It’s really important the new government engages with its workforce on issues like workloads to stop staff leaving our schools and hospitals.”
Nowak said the TUC was encouraging staff to take their lunchbreak and not work through it and to finish their work on time. “And we know that good employers will support them doing that,” he added.
“My message to workers who are unfairly being forced to put in unpaid hours is that help is on the way. The Employment Rights Bill will make it easier for people to come together in a union and challenge unfair practices.”
The Cost of Living Crisis and Exploitative Work Practices
The issue of unpaid overtime has worsened as workers grapple with the ongoing cost of living crisis, stagnant wages, and increasing demands in the workplace.
The TUC’s findings show that unpaid work is not a voluntary choice for many workers but rather a reflection of staff shortages, unrealistic expectations and toxic workplace cultures that pressure employees to stay late or take on extra work without additional pay.
The analysis also reveals significant regional disparities:
- London has the highest proportion of workers doing unpaid overtime (17%), compared to a national average of 13%.
- Men tend to work slightly more unpaid hours per week than women (7.5 hours compared to 6.8 hours), though both genders are equally affected in terms of numbers (13.2% of women, 13.1% of men).
Despite employment laws requiring employers to properly compensate workers for their time, the TUC argues that millions of workers feel unable to challenge excessive work demands out of fear of losing their jobs, missing out on promotions, or being seen as not dedicated enough.
Work Your Proper Hours Day: What Needs to Change?
The TUC is using Work Your Proper Hours Day to call on both employers and the government to tackle the UK’s growing unpaid overtime crisis. The union is urging businesses to:
- Set realistic workloads so staff can complete tasks within their contracted hours.
- Ensure working hours are properly monitored to prevent unpaid overtime.
- Encourage employees to take their full breaks and leave entitlements to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
- End exploitative “always-on” work cultures that pressure employees to check emails or complete tasks outside their scheduled hours.
As workplace burnout reaches record levels, campaigners argue that fixing the unpaid overtime crisis is not just about fairness but also protecting workers’ mental health, ensuring sustainable employment practices and improving overall job satisfaction across the UK.