Overworked employees ‘should fight back’

Workers experiencing feelings of stress due to being over-stretched in their jobs have been advised to “fight back”, by one sector commentator.

Carolyn Jones, director of the Institute of Employment Rights, said some employers are looking to get as many hours as possible from fewer employees, but are using the recession as an excuse to not pay for overtime.

She added that this reflects a problem of fear and insecurity among staff, but that rather than putting up with such demands they should fight back and resist the intensification of work expectations.

Ms Jones noted UK employees deserve both respect and security in their jobs.

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Her comments come after the Trades Union Congress revealed the number of people working “extreme” unpaid overtime of more than ten hours a week increased by 14,000 to nearly 900,000 last year.

“The working times regulations set out maximum working hours and rest periods and people should check their rights before accepting employer demands,” Ms Jones advised.