Overtime laws!

[unruliejulie]

a friend of mine is a removal man, once he has done his 40 hours, his wages stay at the same basic rate. For example, if he has done his 40 hours by a thursday is he then entitled to an overtime rate? The only time he gets paid overtime is on a Saturday/Sunday. Is this right? I would have thought anything over his basic 40 hours would have to be paid at overtime rate. He has asked me to ask this on his behalf so thanks in advance.

[Ethel]

There is no statutory right to enhanced pay for overtime, unless it is stated in the contract.

He could try negotiating for a weekday overtime rate though.

[cesdlv]

Ethel is right about the law and her procedural suggestion is sound.

From another perspective, premiums for overtime are a bad thing. They depress basic pay (Q. Which industries have long hours? A. Those with low basic pay), encourage inefficiency (workers hold back to 'earn' extra hours) and divide the workforce (those who want more money v those who want a life). The solutions are either to have penal overtime premia (like 10 times basic rates) to encourage employers to be efficient, or to have no premia at all to encourage workers not to take it. End of pious sermon. I hope unruliejulie's friend gets something.

[dzug]

In fact there are workers whose hourly overtime rate is LESS than their normal hourly rate