Media Clipping — April 27, 2004, The National Post

Most Nova Scotians not paid for overtime

HALIFAX - Nearly two-thirds of Nova Scotians who work overtime aren't getting paid for it, according to a report released yesterday by Halifax thinktank GPI Atlantic.

In a typical week in 2001, salaried employees worked about 373,000 overtime hours for no extra pay, says the report.

"It's a staggering number and these people are doing it for free," said Linda Pannozzo, the report's main author.

Only 38% of Nova Scotians who work overtime get paid for it, says the report. About 59% of workers who work overtime -- many of them teachers and managers -- aren't compensated for the extra effort.

Overtime is a moving target in this province and nation-wide. It increased 15% between 1997 and 2001, says the 500-page report.

"If all overtime hours were converted to new full-time jobs, admittedly not an easy task, there would be half a million fewer unemployed Canadians and 16,000 fewer unemployed Nova Scotians," said the report.

Copyright © 2004 The National Post