unpaid overtime

October 12-18 is the IWA-AIT annual week against unpaid wages

annual week against unpaid wagesThis week is the International Week Against Unpaid Wages.

The system of wage labour is exploitative by definition, and workers’ legal rights regarding pay are pitiful – but even this low bar is frequently ignored by employers. For many workers, then, demanding the bare minimum that this society allows is an important first step to taking control of their workplaces and their lives.

Here are just a few examples of what unpaid wages can look like... 

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What is wage theft?

What is wage theft?

Wage theft is when an employer takes money that rightfully belongs to the worker.

Wage theft is often illegal, but sometimes your boss can steal your pay without breaking any laws.

We believe that all wage theft is wrong, whether it's legal or illegal. Just because your boss isn’t breaking the law, doesn't mean you should put up with how they are treating you.

What is wage theft? | I’m worried about wage theft. What should I do? | How does wage theft happen? | Unpaid trial shifts | Non-payment of travel time | What if you work in social care? | What does this have to do with anarchism? | Deductions for uniforms, clothing and equipment | “Punitive” deductions | Other deductions | Non-payment of the National Minimum Wage | Unpaid overtime | Sources

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Stuff your boss (doesn't want you to know)

Stuff your boss (doesn't want you to know)

  • Minimum wage - 21+ years: £12.71/ 18-20 years: £10.85/ under 18 or apprentice: £8
  • Holiday - 28 days paid holiday per year from the day you start pro rata
  • Breaks - uninterrupted 20min rest when working over 6 hours!
  • Days off - at least a full 24hrs per week or 48hrs a fortnight
  • Sick pay - no less than £123.25 per week up to 28 weeks
  • Rest - at least 11 hours rest between shifts 

Don’t settle for the minimum! Organise for better! 

The Solidarity Federation is an anarcho-syndicalist union

Whether we’re working temporarily or permanently, with an agency, full or part-time, we have certain basic rights ... (read more)

updated April 2026. In some cases there may be exceptions

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Stuff your boss (doesn't want you to know) sticker 2026.pdf (110.63 KB) 110.63 KB

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Hospitality - Rights at work

sfhwu

  • What are statutory employment rights?
  • What is the best way to go about enforcing your rights?
  • Do not rely on legal procedures
  • What information should your employer give you when first starting work?
  • Job insecurity, abuse of the “worker” employment status by the employer and how to fight it
  • What employment rights do I have as an “employee” and how do they differ from the rights of those classed as “workers”?
  • What information should be on my payslip and what can I do if my wages are wrong?
  • What are my rights in regards to the national Minimum Wage?
  • What is my holiday entitlement and how much should I get paid?
  • What are my rights to be paid when off sick?
  • I am pregnant. What are my rights in regards to leave?
  • What can I do if I am pregnant but do not qualify for statutory maternity pay?
  • What health and safety precautions must my employer take when I am pregnant?
  • What can I do if I have to take time off to deal with an emergency involving my family or some other dependant?
  • Can I request to work more flexibly?
  • I am being made redundant. What should I do and what are my rights?
  • I am being discriminated against at work. What can I do?
  • My employer kept my tips, what can I do?
  • My employer has dismissed me. What can I do and what are the chances of winning my case and getting my job back?

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By Auto, 20 April, 2011
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When it comes to the Crunch - Unpaid overtime in the Games Industry

Auto, a Solidarity Federation member and games industry worker writes about the practice of 'Crunch Time' - the long hours of unpaid overtime in the games industry and the reasons behind it.

Imagine if you had to give your company over fifteen hours of extra unpaid work a week. Imagine if you hadn’t been able to cook yourself a proper meal in over two months. Imagine if you came home late at night and left for work early in the morning, that’s if you even leave work at all. Welcome to the modern games industry!

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unpaid overtime

The Solidarity Federation is an anarcho-syndicalist union, a means for people seeking to improve our lives to organise in our workplaces and communities. SolFed brings together people in all occupations regardless of industry, sector or trade – whether we’re employed or not.

SolFed seeks the abolition of capitalism and the institutions of power that are associated with it, such as the state. Our goal is to create a society centred on needs rather than profit, based upon the principle ‘from each according to ability, to each according to need’.

We believe in the principle of direct action – that means doing something for ourselves and not expecting leaders or representatives to act on our behalf.

SolFed members organise ourselves in a federation of local unions; in education we are in the Solidarity Federation Education Union (SFEU) and our members in hospitality are in the Solidarity Federation Hospitality Workers Union (SFHWU)

Join us!