Working overtime

[neatdesign]

How many of you work overtime to earn some extra cash?

This is something I've recently decided I'm going to start doing -- at least as long as I can stand it! When I work over 40 hrs/wk, I make time-and-a-half, or about $18/hr before taxes. I'm in a really good situation as far as overtime goes, because 1) my company encourages it; 2) the call center is open 24 hrs/day so I can go in whenever I want; and 3) I only work 4 days/wk already (10-hr shifts), so I can go in on two of my days off and still have a day to myself.

My goal right now is to do at least six hours of overtime a week. The plan is to arrive 15 mins early, and take a 45 min lunch instead of an hour. Over my four-day schedule, that's an automatic 2 hours of overtime without my even noticing it. Then I plan to go in for at least 2 hours on two of my three days off to get to my goal of six total hours. If I stay a bit later at night or whatever, that just adds to the pot.

I'm going to try this for one month and see how it goes. I don't want to burn out, obviously, but when I see that I can make about $400 extra per month it's a good motivation for me to try. Especially since my hubby is still looking for a job and we're not sure when that will turn around.

So, does anyone else do this? Are there some of you who don't get overtime pay and wish you did so you could take advantage of it?

~ Jenney

[34saving]

Sounds like a great situation!! (I'm sure there's lots of jealousy going on as people read your post ) Go for it and good luck!

[PrincessPerky]

So have the jealousy here! I don't like DH to be away anymore than neccessary and I do love his no lunch shift, but I miss the extra loot from overtime.

[kashi]

yeah, I'm jealous. I'm salaried and I hate it. Any extra time I am at work is given to me as extra hours I can take off, but it caps out at 18 hours. At least I get something, but I'd rather have the money.

[shawni]

I'm jealous too! DH is able to work limited overtime due to company restrictions and that helps, but I work for a non profit agency and overtime is highly discouraged. I could always pick up shifts on the weekends waitressing, but after getting out of doing that for 10 years, I can't seem to go back.

[seaar2000]

I work overtime and love it. I'm at work anyways, so a few more hours don't hurt. I take the extra money and put it in my EF. Want to have at least 6-9 months EF than once I have that I want to go down from 10 days to 9 days. This is my motivation to work overtime.

[jmjj215]

6-9 months?! Wow. You could handle just about any emergency for a very, very long time. I can't work overtime at my job but I can bust my butt working on my side business every chance I get. Hopefully that's kind of like the equivalent of overtime

[deckape]

I used to work all the over time I could, untill I got hurt, so if you are able to make money make all you can untill hubby gets a job then slow down a bit to injoy your life

[miclason]

errr...I always have to work overtime, we don't get paid for it, and we are not given compensatory time off, either...my unit at least is flexible with schedules (i.e., the managers don't have a fit if you are not at your desk at 7:55 am, or if you take -slightly- more than one hour for lunch)....other areas are extremely particular about your entry time...funny how they never fuss about you leaving 3 hours late, but might get a heart attack if you are 2 minutes late!!...Financially, it really sucks, though, because it not only means that I don't get paid here, but also that, because of the hours I already work, I cannot even committ to working somewhere else (like giving English lessons, for example) ...

[neatdesign]

Originally Posted by neatdesign

My goal right now is to do at least six hours of overtime a week.

As always, I spoke too soon!

I had been planning on going in on Thursday (one of my days off) to do at least 2 hours of overtime, but then before I knew it our plans changed and I never made it it. Oh well.

In the end I'll still get 4 hours this week -- if I really stretch it I could do 8 hours next week, but I think that's a bit much. So if I get at least 4 hrs/week I'll be pleased.

After reading the responses here, I see I'm a lot more fortunate than I realized when it comes to my overtime opportunities. I always knew it was flexible, but I didn't realize so many people don't get paid for overtime work. All the more reason for me to do what I can to take advantage of it!

~ Jenney

[Tree0164]

Jenney,
You sound like you have a great situation. Do you have a specific goal for that extra money like paying off debt or will it be going to save for something specific.

I have my own business so no OT.

[neatdesign]

Originally Posted by Tree0164

Jenney,
You sound like you have a great situation. Do you have a specific goal for that extra money like paying off debt or will it be going to save for something specific.

A little bit of everything, really. At this point my goal is just to make as much money as I can. I know that sounds simplistic but it's true! My husband isn't working (hasn't for two years; long story) and we don't know exactly when that will change. He's applied for several jobs over the past few months, but nothing yet. So even though I don't like working more than I have to, getting that extra income will be really nice. I would've done it sooner except I just started a new position about 3-4 months ago and I didn't feel ready for it yet.

We have a lot of debt to pay off -- around $27k, more or less, including two car loans and a credit card balance -- so the first priority is to become debt-free. We'd like to build up savings so we can eventually buy a home. We'd also like to be able to travel some, especially to see Mark's family in the UK.

Once Mark gets a job that will make things a WHOLE LOT easier. So hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later. The overtime will help out in the meantime...

~ Jenney

[srace]

When I worked in a factory for rour years I worked all the overtime I could. It wasn't too bad and it was nice in the paycheck. They had volentary layoff every summer and always called weveryone back so I took it one year and I had enough overtime in to make more money on unemployment in 2 weeks than if I had worked just a 40 hr work week. It was great. I got to enjoy the summmer and still get a great pay check. Now when I work over it is still less than 40 hours a week on my check but the money is great, so I do it whenever I can.

[neatdesign]

Originally Posted by neatdesign

In the end I'll still get 4 hours this week -- if I really stretch it I could do 8 hours next week, but I think that's a bit much. So if I get at least 4 hrs/week I'll be pleased.

Well, I did it! I got just over four hours last week (4.12) and over four hours again this week (4.38)!!! If my math is right, that should be about $155 before taxes -- yay!

My goal right now is to keep this up at least until the end of May. Unfortunately I won't see the fruits of my overtime efforts until the end of the month. I may try to increase my hours, maybe go in on one of my days off for 3 hours instead of 2 hours, but I don't want to overdo it. I'm already feeling like I'm always there. But until Mark gets a job this will just have to be what is done to help keep things going for us.

~ Jenney

[al0061]

Ahh. Overtime pay. How I miss it.
I work at least five hours overtime per week. It used to be 10 or 15, but I've cut back. I'm on salary, though, so don't get paid for any of it.

Get it while the getting's good, but do watch out for burnout. It's a very bad feeling, and sometimes debilitating.

Torch - aka al0061

[baselle]

Hmmm. Overtime. Funny, I've rarely gotten overtime. I've usually been on salary or stipend.
But I can imagine that overtime has a double advantage - not only do you get more money, you also have less time or temptation to spend the check.
Me-too on the burnout, but it looks like DH better be on board, too. You don't want to be working overtime and then a third shift at home.
Finally, do you have an exit strategy? If you do get burned out or your situation changes can you stop working overtime?

[mom-from-missouri]

Your lucky you can do the overtime. Where I work, it has to be offered in order of seniority. If you work it without going thru the right channels, first, they don't pay you for it. But on the flip side, seems like everytime I have something planned, the company forces mandatory overtime on you. When its mandatory, you must work it, or else you get written up for it...

[srace]

I am so upset, I know there are days coming up when the other waitresses at work need time off and I would love to work it and make the extra money, but DH is working out of town and it is just me and Christina here and I can't find anyone to watch her so I can't do it. Always something in the way it seems like.

[CRFSaver]

Wish I could get overtime. I am salaried as well. At least this new gig is not to bad though. The last department I was in I worked consistently 7-6 or 7-7 mon through friday. Here I have pretty easy days and then before big meetings I work crazy hours. I was here till 3 in the morning one night before the board meeting. At least I get a bonus. And my boss gives us comp time for when we do that. This vacation next week is not even eating into my normal vacation as I rolled 5 days over from last year and still ahve 2 (or is it 3) comp days left.

My job is seasonal, so overtime doesn't start until after 45 hours. However, last week was our busiest week (it was when our park hosted "A Day Out with Thomas" - some of you mom's might know what that is). Anyways, that lasted from a Friday through this past Sunday. I worked all 10 days of it. I was supposed to have 1 day off during the week, but my boss needed me, so I came in. 10 days straight was so rough, but I got in 1.5 hours of overtime for the week leading into "Thomas week" and for the 7 days straight, I got 23 hours of overtime!!! Actually, I'm logging into my bank acct. now to see how my check was (since it was direct-deposited last night). Well... it's not terrible for 1 week of work (I make $7.25/hr regularly): about $440 after taxes! I was so tired after that, but I think the extra money was worth it because now they have to cut down on overtime since everyone got at least 6 days of work last week. I'm the only one who got all 7 though. Just glad I took the opportunity when it came.