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ALMOST a third of Australian businesses bumped up overtime during the last 12 months, with 62 per cent of non-award staff clocking the extra hours unpaid, according to Hays.
The 2016 Hays Salary Guide found that of the 30 per cent of organisations that increased overtime, 36 per cent added five hours or less each week.
A further 31 per cent increased overtime between five and 10 hours a week, while 10 per cent said it was more than 10 hours. Overtime remained the same year-on-year for 60 per cent of employers.
Hays Australia & New Zealand managing director Nick Deligiannis says employers must consider the long-term effect of unpaid work on the team.
"Business activity is increasing and while employers are prepared to add to their headcount they also expect their existing staff to chip in and help with rising workloads," Deligiannis says.
"But with employers keeping the salary purse strings tight, and 62 per cent of non-award staff not being paid for their overtime, bosses need to seriously consider the financial, as well as physical and emotional, impact of the extra work on their employees.
"Perhaps it's time for employers to stop listening to the economic pessimists and instead take the position that their organisation can afford to pay overtime.
"After all, almost two-thirds of employers (64 per cent) say they experienced increased business activity over the past 12 months, and 70 per cent expect further increased activity in the year ahead.
"There could also be a good business case for adding a permanent or temporary member to the team to help relieve pressure on existing staff."
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