Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

Work Your Proper Hours Day

Work Your Proper Hours Day (24th February 2012) is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year, and starts earning for themselves. We think that's a day worth celebrating.

Over five million people at work in the UK regularly do unpaid overtime, giving their employers £29.2 billion of free work last year alone.

We are not saying that all of this free overtime is done by Network Rail staff but, it’s likely that you’ve probably done more than your fair share. You can work out how much your unpaid overtime is worth using the TUC's unpaid overtime calculator.

Long hours are not good for us:

• they cause stress
• they're bad for our health
• they can wreck relationships
• they make caring for children or dependents more difficult
• Tired, burnt-out staff are bad for business too

If you have been doing free work for NR, why not take some time to reflect on how well (or badly) you're balancing your life?

This is one day in the year to make the most of your own time. Take a proper lunch break and leave work on time to enjoy your Friday evening - You deserve it!

How can we redress the balance?

We know that flexible working arrangements are not viewed very favourably within NR as it stands. Many people are under pressure to be at their desks or out on the job well beyond reasonable working hours. We want to change this.

As part of our work to quantify the scale of the transport industry's long hours culture, we are currently focussing on gathering information from Network Rail employees.

If you work for Network Rail please complete our online survey and forward the link to your colleagues so they can tell us their views too:

Take the working hours survey

The information we gain will strengthen our ability to negotiate on this issue with NR as a whole and is particularly important at a time we are developing the pay claim for Bands 1-4.

Why not celebrate Work Your Proper Hours Day with your colleagues – finish up on time and head out for a post-work drink or a bite to eat together?

You could ask your TSSA Rep or Branch to organise a social event to mark the occasion?

Whatever you decide to do on Friday 24 Feb, do yourself a favour - only work your proper hours.

Download, posters, leaflets and our newsletter to give to colleagues: