I've been in the UK just over 3 years now, and never once received overtime pay.

Worked for Xansa: contracted hours were 9:30-17:30, and my agency paid me up to 18:00, but no further. Worked a number of days to 20:30, but didn't receive any pay whatsoever for the extra hours. No overtime pay under any circumstances.

Worked for Telewest Broadband: contracted hours were 8 hours per day on a rotating shift (afternoon/night) and one Saturday in every four. No overtime pay under any circumstances (even on Saturday) and no shift penalties for night work; just the base rate every hour, regardless of how long I worked.

Currently work for A-Plant: contracted hours 08:00-17:30 and one Saturday in 5 (in breach of the 1993 Working Time Directive, but nobody seems to care). No overtime pay under any circumstances, and no pay at all for working beyond my contracted hours. Half hour lunch break (no other breaks permitted) and 4 weeks holiday a year (which is OK, but hardly generous).

All of which is a huge step down from the extra time, overtime and shift penalties I enjoyed back home at Australia Post (not to mention the 5-week annual holiday allowance).

I don't know what you have to do to get overtime in this country, but whatever it is, I'd wish someone would share the secret.

You're in the wrong job mate. I earn a fortune in OT and have signed out of the 48 hour week. Some months I double my take home from the amount of ot I do, sometimes I don't want to do it but I have to, at least I'm paid well to do it.

The previous job my husband worked for he often got paid double time for overtime worked - maybe thats why it closed down hmmmm he was in a hell of alot and they knew all they'd have to do is ask and he'd go after bribing me of course that if I don't make him feel bad for hardly being at home I get x amount lol But overtime was paid at least at time and a half, mostly double time.

Where my husband works now they pay time and a half if you go over your shift hours if theres been a machine down but he went in Thursday on overtime and got paid standard rate.

When we chatted to company in Oz about it they do pay overtime at either time and a half or double time depending on the shift. It's also attached as an extra in his contract. So i'm hoping this won't apply or I can well see hubby making any excuse under the sun as to why unfortunately he cant stay llate or go in on a particular day lol

Jen

Jen

No whats happening now is called workplace reform.

My sons a sparkie, my partner a builder the son when he started his job prior to workplace reform got overtime and penalty rates same employer now he doesnt. Builder has always worked contract to contract, he consults on massive projects, never ever got overtime, contract would always indicate some amusing hours such as 7 - 3 5 days a week which would turn out to be unlock sites check jobs/paperwork from 6 run sites all day and rarely leave before 5 pm. Saturday, again all the extra hours you turn up for free.

The workmen like brickies (top of the demand list) work in hideous conditions, for a start, try laying bricks in 35+, you dont get sent home for heat, since Workplace reform most of the sties allow ONE 20 or 30 minute break all day.

Dont think its just construction workers who get treated like rubbish either, theres been a lot of talk of nurses and such being offered contracts with no penalty rates for nightshift etc that hasnt yet, but my guess is once they import enough immigrant workers to fill the shortfall of nurses, penalty rates in these industries will disappear too.

christ mate can imagine the uproar!

The reason the companies can do all this no extra for overtime is cos u get people who will work it and work extra unpaid, those are the people u should get annoyed at, not the companies!
The way I see it is if you're in work they're makin money from u and you're perfectly entitled to your cut! If they don't pay, find a company that does, if nobody will do their overtime it's their own fault,
Power to the people!!

This is how my son and others were treated here at a compamy in Rocky. He told them to shove it and has a much better job and gets treated like a human, lets hope it stays that way.

heh blowfly thanks for info the other day. much appreciated
god help us when we get there. with all this downers on oxzy worklife making me wonder hmmmmm.
but not for long heres to sunshine and a better life
lesley

Yeah, but you're an office walla Vash... Hardly anybody gets overtime in that line... I certainly would never have considered paying it to any of my office staff when I had my transport business in the UK... Even the drivers were on a standard payment that took into account any extra hours they might do...

I can totally understand overtime being paid when the work being done has a tangible value that's easily quantified... Like say a factory worker making something or a brickie or whatever... But paying overtime to office staff is a bit different...

Hi Lesley, why shouldn't you try for a different life you have children it is always a good motivation to try to make things better or different. There is good and bad bits to every country.I have one son who loves England and can't wait to get out another that would rather have a poke in the eye with a fork than live there again (even though he is going again this year for a month!) another son who is already thinking that maybe he may end up back there(had some trouble with the work rules and now the aussie government but thats another story.)So different experiences, expectations. likes and dislikes. So it really is different strokes for different folks! Do the reasearch and not just the bbc programmes. I wish you all the best for you and your family and hope everything works out well for you. Jenny

Whats happened to WDU? its not on this morning has 4 weeks gone by already?

I know. . . the will to get up out of bed before 9 is lost . . .

Gonna have to get me a hobby.

really annoyed i have missed the programme but, i am seeing oz for real as in adelaide at the moment, been to sydney and off to brisbane /sunshine coast tomorrow.....must say oz is better than i thought.looking into jobs and houses and stayed with my dads friend in adelaide went to a barbie beautiful weather ,parrots in the palmtrees...all my dads friends family were there all from uk (bournemouth)...must say all say they would never go back to uk....will let you know how it went when i am back.....missing wdu ....gracie

Just like to say hello to everyone, don't forget if you missed WDU first time round it is now repeated in the early hours on BBC 1

Oh I didn't know that Hello!