Overtime has been standard practice in the business world for as long as the business world has existed. When managed correctly, overtime is a perfect example of a concept that is mutually beneficial to both employers and employees: the business gets the work it needs, and the employees earn a little extra to top up their wages. Everybody wins.
However, while a basic concept at its heart, overtime can pose its challenges. To ensure that the use of overtime at your company is as productive and useful as it can be, we’ve put together a few areas of consideration…
DO make it clear overtime is not compulsory
If you’re offering overtime to your employees, then it’s essential that you are crystal clear about the fact you are offering. Overtime should not be compulsory; it is a choice, and one that employees have every right to turn down.
DON’T judge an employee based on their willingness to do overtime
If your business is struggling to keep up with demand and you need extra help from staff, offering overtime is the natural solution. However, this scenario can also present problems for how you see your employees; if an employee refuses overtime when the business really needs it, you may find that you respond rather negatively. While this is understandable – you’re stressed and struggling with a heavy workload, after all – it’s helpful to try and control the impulse to feel resentment.
While it’s easy to see why this happens, it’s important to impress upon yourself that the employee may very much want to do overtime, but they do not have the time in their schedule for it. They are not being deliberately unhelpful; they just have other commitments, responsibilities, and needs, so if they say no, then that’s entirely their prerogative to do so.
DO know the legalities of overtime
You have to be extremely careful with how you approach overtime, as misuse could lead to employees wanting help from the from The Dolman Law Group and similar firms to resolve legal issues that arise as a result of any disputes. Take the time to research employment laws with your local authority so you can be sure you’re abiding fully by the rules when offering overtime to your employees.
DON’T give overtime to anyone who wants it
Most notably, this applies to an employee who has already taken a huge amount of overtime. Yes, you need the extra labor, and your employee clearly wants the money, but there is a point when an employee can become so severely overloaded that their productivity – not to mention their mental health – can be impacted by spending too much time at work. It’s helpful to keep a diary of who has done overtime and for how long, so you can track the extra hours worked and ensure no one is doing too much.
In conclusion
If you keep the above considerations in mind, you and your staff should be able to enjoy all of the benefits of overtime without having to worry about the complications that can sometimes befall the concept.