Overworked? Email your boss

BRITAIN'S workers put in the longest hours in Europe and unions believe much of this is unrewarded. Today the Trades Union Congress is launching an online 'bossagram' service where employees can send their manager an anonymous email to point out how much unpaid extra time they work.

This Friday has been named 'Work Your Proper Hours Day' by the TUC as part of a campaign to highlight the UK's long-hours culture. According to the TUC, there is so much unpaid overtime that if people totted up the amount they did in a year and started from January 1, they would in effect work for nothing until February 25.

The TUC is urging employees to work their proper hours on Friday, by starting on time, taking a proper lunch break and leaving work when they should. Managers should use the day to say a proper thank you to staff for all their unpaid extra work and take them out for a coffee or cocktail after work.

Meanwhile, anyone who wants their manager to receive an anonymous 'bossagram' email can log on to the TUC website, www.workyourproperhoursday.com, and follow the instructions.

The identity of the person submitting their manager's email address will remain anonymous. Only one email will be sent to any email address, however many times it is submitted, and the text of each email will be identical. After work your proper hours day, the TUC will erase all the email records.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The bossagram is a fun way to make a serious point.Too many workplaces are in the grip of a long hours culture, and with a bit better organisation people could gain extra hours of free time and still get their work done well.'