Manage overtime

Introduction

Guide

Overtime working is routinely used by many businesses as a way of coping with changes in demand or labour shortages. If you frequently require employees to work overtime, this could be a sign of inefficiency in your business.

Unless there are special provisions in an employee's contract, you must get their agreement to work overtime.

This guide covers the legal and management issues concerning overtime work, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using overtime to deal with demand changes. It also looks at some of the alternatives to overtime working which may be cheaper or more flexible to operate.