Mandatory Overtime

What Is Mandatory Overtime?

Mandatory overtime requires employees to work hours over and above their regular scheduled hours without prior agreement. It is also termed compulsory or forced overtime and is necessitated to ensure the continuance of operations in cases of unexpected demand, to avoid staffing shortages, and so on.

What Are the Key Characteristics of Mandatory Overtime?

Mandatory overtime is different from the standard overtime strategy followed by most companies. Here are the key characteristics of it.

• Forced Extra Working Hours: The extra hours at work are mandatory.
• No Prior Agreements: Employees might not have agreed to or been informed about the working of overtime hours.
• Compulsory Nature: Failure to work overtime may result in disciplinary action.
• Inconsistent Timings: Overtime can be provided anytime and in any quantity.

What Are the Best Practices for Enforcing Mandatory Overtime?

While the term "mandatory overtime" may have negative connotations, organisations can still implement it legally by adhering to the labour laws applicable in their respective state or federal territories. If your business is facing labour shortages but high productivity demands, you can implement mandatory overtime by following these best practices:

• Policy: Create a solid policy for mandatory overtime, defining the rules, criteria, how employees are going to be paid for it, etc.
• Fair Compensation: Provide proper wages that align with industry standards for the overtime hours employees spend at work.
• Employee Check-in: Have a regular meeting with the employees to listen to any grievances they may have regarding the working conditions or the extended hours of work.
• Rotating Overtime: Distribute the extra workload among the employees evenly.
• Breaks: Ensure that there are proper rest hours for those employees who work long shifts at work.
• Accurate tracking of working hours: Use reliable time attendance software to chalk out the extra hours employees work.

In fact, by understanding the implications of mandatory overtime, organisations can develop balanced strategies to maintain productivity while also caring for their employees.