PanicStation.org
UK USA
uk Work & employment crises

What to do if…
you are pressured to work or respond outside paid working time

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Check whether the request is part of your agreed hours, overtime, or on-call duties before committing. Save the request, record any time already spent, and ask in writing whether a response is required now and how the time should be recorded.

Do not do these things

  • Do not resign or threaten to resign while distressed or angry.
  • Do not delete messages, emails, call logs, rota records, or timesheets.
  • Do not assume that receiving a message automatically means you must respond immediately.
  • Do not assume that extra work automatically attracts additional pay.
  • Do not keep completing extra tasks without recording the time spent.
  • Do not agree under pressure to permanent unpaid availability or changed hours.
  • Do not send an angry or accusatory response.
  • Do not disregard a genuine safety-critical issue or an on-call duty you have agreed to follow.

What to do now

  1. Check whether the request concerns an immediate safety issue or an agreed on-call duty. Follow the relevant workplace procedure if it does; otherwise, ask whether a response is required before your next paid working period.

  2. Save the request in a place you can access later. Keep the date, time, sender, wording, stated deadline, and any follow-up pressure.

  3. Record every period spent reading, replying, joining calls, checking documents, or completing tasks. Include brief interruptions as well as longer pieces of work.

  4. Check your written statement, employment contract, rota, staff handbook, collective agreement, and any overtime, time-off-in-lieu, remote-working, or on-call policy. Look for your agreed hours, required availability, compulsory overtime terms, and the process for recording extra time.

  5. Ask for written clarification. You could write: “I received this outside my paid working time. Please confirm whether I am required to deal with it now and how I should record the time, including whether overtime, time off in lieu, or an on-call arrangement applies.”

  6. If you are instructed to complete the work now, keep that instruction and record the exact time spent. Do not rely only on a verbal conversation if you can calmly confirm what was agreed in writing.

  7. If this is recurring, raise it informally with your manager, HR, or another appropriate manager. If your manager is applying the pressure, consider speaking to a more senior manager or your trade union representative.

  8. Seek prompt employment advice if the extra work may affect your minimum-wage entitlement, working-time limits, rest, health and safety, or treatment at work. Acas covers England, Scotland and Wales; the Labour Relations Agency covers Northern Ireland.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to make a formal grievance, accept changed hours, resign, or bring a legal claim. First preserve the requests, record the time, check your terms, and obtain a clear written answer about what is expected.

Important reassurance

Receiving work contact outside your paid time does not by itself settle whether you must respond immediately or how the time should be treated. Your contract, employment status, working pattern, on-call arrangements, pay, and the circumstances may all matter.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate steps for recording the pressure, checking your terms, and requesting clarification. Later decisions about grievances, contract changes, unpaid wages, discrimination, dismissal, or tribunal proceedings may require specialist employment advice.

Important note

This is general employment information, not legal or professional advice. Employment rights and procedures can depend on your employment status, contract, workplace, location within the UK, and the full circumstances.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

Support us