Employers across globe seen violating overtime rules: Study

India, China top list of countries surveyed, in terms of overtime rules and their violation

Majority of hourly workers around the world believe their employer has violated laws or rules governing overtime in their region, said a global survey commissioned by The Workforce Institute at Kronos Incorporated and conducted by market research firm Harris Interactive. India and China have the largest per cent of people believing that overtime rules were violated, as per the report. 

As per the survey, majority of hourly wage workers around the world said they are at least somewhat aware of the rules and laws governing overtime and compensation where they live. India and China topped the list at 94 and 96 per cent respectively. Also, a majority in every region except the US also believed their employers had at some point violated overtime rules, with China and India topping the list again at 88 and 81 per cent respectively.

"Overtime is very commonplace around the world. In all regions surveyed except France, more than half of hourly wage workers said their employer offered them the opportunity to work overtime hours," said the survey report. Overtime is defined as more than their regularly scheduled work hours at either a higher rate of pay or in return for paid time off.

The survey also found that high numbers of hourly wage workers around the world are actually required by their employer to work overtime, with 68 per cent Indians sharing this viewpoint, making it the highest in the world. James Thomas, country manager, Kronos India said, "Overtime is a hotly contested topic between workers and management in India. It is also worthwhile to note the percentage of workers who find overtime appealing and hence the importance to ensure companies have visibility and access to real-time data to be fair and equitable to the workforce while at the same time managing overtime as planned and not unplanned or adhoc."

Outside of US, this study was conducted online among a total of 8,086 adults aged 16-64 years within Great Britain, France, Australia, China, Canada, Mexico, India and Brazil, of whom 1,662 people were employed full/part time and paid an hourly wage. Figures such as age, sex, education, region, income and Internet usage were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. This data was weighted to reflect the composition of the online adult population.

In US, it was conducted online among 2,037 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.