3 Undeniable Benefits of Working “Free” Overtime

Salary = slavery. Or does it? Many people are choosing to work longer hours, and the 9:00–5:00 workday is becoming extinct. More executive-level jobs require a finger on the pulse throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening, especially for international businesses, where work is being done in other countries.

While many employees and even management may balk at the prospect of unpaid overtime, 3C Contact Services, the leading provider of outsourced call centers, tells their partners that there are many advantages of doing work off the clock.

Here are just a few of the advantages of working overtime for free:

1. Sets an example:

   Coming in early without pay, whether it’s workers or management, can help to clear out excess work. If management does this, it sets a good example that your agents will doubtlessly want to follow.

2. Frees up regular hours:

   If you come to work early and clear out the backlog, this will give you more time during the day to focus on more important tasks during paid working hours.

3. Clears out tasks:

   At the other end of the spectrum, staying late is another way to clear out any excess work and prevent a backlog. As an added bonus, if you or your agents commute, that also means that they will avoid traffic and crowds on transit during rush hour.

4. Opens you up to having candid conversations with senior staff:

   You may find that your senior staff and management are more willing to be open when they’re off the clock; the same goes for call center agents. This is a great opportunity to get to know the management and network with them, which will serve you well when it’s time for raises and promotions.

5. Enables accessibility via cell phone outside of business hours:

   Call centers are typically open anywhere from 12 to 24 hours a day, and inevitably, a crisis will arise when you aren’t in the office, leaving you with something to deal with when you arrive for work the next day.

6. Fights fires as they happen instead of the next day for peace of mind

   : There’s nothing worse than arriving at work and discovering that a major crisis happened during the night that requires your immediate attention and adds to your workload. If you deal with issues as they arise, there will be one less thing for you to worry about when you come to work.

There may be some grumbling about working without pay, but 3C Contact Services believes that once you explain the benefits, the biggest being less stress, your workers are sure to see the benefits.