Work Your Proper Hours Day (22 Feb 2008)

is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year, and starts earning for themselves. We think that's a day worth celebrating!

Check your balance: Find out your office working style and you could win an iPod

The Work / Life Map: check out how the UK works

the Breaktime game: can you work your proper hours?

decorate your office with free posters

send your boss a secret boss-a-gram to fill them in
Nearly five million people in the UK regularly do unpaid overtime, giving their employers an average £4,955 of free work a year. If you're one, why not take some time to reflect on how well (or badly) you're balancing your life?
This is one day in the year to make the most of your own time. Take a proper lunchbreak and leave work on time to enjoy your Friday evening - You deserve it!
Here's our four point plan for having a great Work Your Proper Hours Day:
1: Put yourself on the map!
We're building a big interactive map of the UK's attitudes to work / life balance. Take our quiz to find out what your workplace style is, and then add yourself to the map to see how you stack up against everyone else, and get the chance to win a swanky iPod Touch. Or check the map, to see what others have said.
2: Spread the word
Help get the word out by sending your friends an e-card, or linking to the campaign. You can download or order free posters to spruce up your office. And don't leave your boss out - let them know about the day with an anonymous Boss-A-Gram.
3: Enjoy your Friday!
If you normally just cram a sandwich at your desk, and only leave work long after the sun's gone down, take just one day to make a stand and see what a difference it can make. Plan to take a proper lunchbreak - why not treat yourself to a nice lunch? Then arrange with colleagues or friends working nearby to go out and make the most of your Friday evening. Bonus points for anyone who gets the boss to buy the team a drink to say thanks for all the year's hard work!
4: Tackle your own hours problems
Long hours are not good for us; they cause stress; they're bad for our health; they wreck relationships; they make caring for children or dependents more difficult; and tired, burnt-out staff are bad for business.
People do long hours for a variety of very different reasons. Find out more about the UK's long hours culture.
Work Your Proper Hours Day for 2008 will be 22 February, but your own pay day may come earlier or later, depending on the hours you work above your contracted hours.
Use our online unpaid overtime calculator to find out when you can celebrate paying off your long hours debt.