[aurielle]

In my office we are paid hourly but there is no overtime without prior approval and it is very hard to get approval. Basically we have to be super-slammed with work AND short-staffed to get approval.

Now since I've been working there (going on 6 years now) the majority of the women have taken it upon themselves to work overtime and just not get paid, so they can get caught up. We're almost always very busy. I won't do that. You're just shooting yourself in the foot that way. If I get way too much work, I start complaining to my supervisors, and they will take some work away from me and re-distribute it.

I've told all those women that when they work overtime and don't claim it, they are hurting themselves and the whole office. Our workload has increased alot in the last couple of years and the only way to get additional permanent staff is to NOT work overtime and not get paid, its to complain EVERY TIME we are overloaded with work so that the supervisors know. And then the supervisors will use their discretion whether to re-assign some work, or give approval for paid overtime. When it starts happening all the time, that information will work its way up the chain (especially if they start approving more and more paid overtime, hit em in the pockebook) eventually we will get additional permanent staff. That is the only way things will change for the better for our office. They are finally starting to understand that.