Unpaid overtime in media jobs highlighted

Media professionals are doing some of the most unpaid overtime of workers in all UK sectors, research suggests.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) found journalists, public relations officers and others in the field are carrying out unpaid overtime worth almost £6,000.

Media workers are 50% more likely to work unpaid hours and 40.3% are working almost seven unpaid hours a week.

General Secretary of the TUC, Brendan Barber, said: 'The media industry is notorious for its long-hours culture and today's figures show that many employees are not getting paid for putting in all those extra hours.'

The TUC suggests businesses should say thank you to their staff for this extra work on 22 February, dubbed Work Your Proper Hours Day.

Mr Barber is encouraging staff to work their usual hours on this day, including taking a proper lunch break.