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The TUC has thrown some light on the effects the economic slowdown is having on the work hours of employees. It has been reported that in many industries people are working overtime without an extra pay in order to increase business efficiency.

Around a third of the workforce in industries like finance and public administration are putting in unpaid overtime. As compared to the statistics from autumn 2007, people in agriculture are putting in as many as 13 days extra without pay. Similarly workers in tool hire and garages are working 7 days and 5 days extra without pay respectively.

It has also been reported that the UK has roughly five million people working over seven hours unpaid overtime per week, as the fear accompanying the recession has hit hard both the employers and their employees.

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary says that the current situation has people willing to work extra hours without any demands. However the interesting fact is that although employees in many industries are working longer to finish the job faster, there are many other industries where the effect has been entirely opposite, with people not having sufficient work to fill even their regular hours.

Mr. Barber adds that though overcoming the recession is important and people are willingly putting in extra hours out of fear of losing their jobs, it is not a welcome practice and needs careful handling on part of the employers. A culture should not be created where the employees believe that staying back late in the office means they are less likely to be laid off.

Workers putting in extra hours could be at an increased risk of workplace accidents, Contact the experts at Workplace Law Training to find out about their range of first aid at work training courses which can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations.