Can you be sacked for not doing overtime?

A question about : Can you be sacked for not doing overtime?

I don't mind doing the odd hour here or there but not when I am already working 43hrs per week in this new job, the most hours I've ever worked in any job in the past was 39.5hrs per week, and generally when over time arose there was some sort of incentive to get you to do it IE time and a half etc, min wage isn't exactly motivating, but as I say I don't mind the odd hour here or there but that's not enough, its and extra 2-3 hours per night, to hell with that is what I say, by the time i'd get home kids would be in bed etc etc and as I say 43hrs per week is already to long. Can I be sacked for saying NO?

Best answers:

• You spent ages going on about how you could not get a job. Now you have one you are moaning about too much work.
• you have few rights because you have not been in the job long enough. If everyone else if doing over-time then you probably have to do it. Instead of fighting your employers try to compromise wit them, have a word and say i am happy to work Monday and Wednesday overtime but Tues, Thurs and Friday are nights i do things with my kids and cannot do over-time these nights. This way there is an understanding of what you are happy to do.
• There does come a point where you have to weigh up the job versus your life balance!
• My nephew got a job and he was on probation for about 3 months. Despite working some weekends he was told he didn't do enough overtime and he was let go. He wasn't off sick or anything in that time. They didn't have a problem with his work, or so they said. They told him it was down to not doing enough overtime.
• Do they ask first? What does your contract say in terms of overtime expectation? Overtime shouldn't be compulsory, but voluntary, and if you can't do it, you should be able to say no without it being held against you, expecially if you have children to see to. You need a good home/work balance.
• My children come before anything else, and if working got in the way with my childcare commitments, then I would be looking for another job. Is that an option you could consider?
  When I am asked to do overtime at work, if I can then I will, If I can't then I say so and it has never been held against me, but then my employers understand that some of us have families too.
• Ok my contract says the following.
  Quote:
• Oh dear, it sounds like it's expected. Could you speak to your line manager and explain your home situation, and hash out what constiutes a 'reasonable amount of additional hours'. It's not reasonable if it isn't fitting in well with your commitments, hopefully you will be able to negotiate a bit.
• Have you opted out of the 48 hour working week? https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employme...ff/dg_10029426
  If you haven't, you can't be forced to work more than 48 hours a week. For you that would mean no more than 5 hours of overtime.
  My husband works 84 hours a week. He's not covered by it.
• My 3 month probation is up end of July, as long as I am entitled to JSA I would rather be let go, money is not the be all and end all especially when I wasn't any worse of previously on benefits, I want to work yes just not for an employer who wants everything for nothing.
• The 48 hr maximum ( as per wtd) is averaged out over a 17 week period so you can still work over 48hrs in a week and still be compliant.
  In the UK individuals also have the right to opt out of wtd, so can work more than the maximum hours if they wish to.