Overworked and Unpaid: How Can I Address Excessive Hours at My Rent-a-Car Job?

Hi, I work for a rent-a-car company, and my working hours are 11 hours per day for 6 days a week. The official shift is for 9 hours, but we have to wait extra hours, which are unpaid. My company is registered under the Merchants and Establishments Act. HR says there is no policy for this situation. What should I do?

Understanding Your Working Hours and Rights

Here, you need to realize that more information needs to be collected on your part:

• What does your appointment letter say regarding working hours?
• What does your job description (JD) say regarding your profile?
• Does HR have any policy manual regarding working hours and overtime rules?

Please collect the above information and then speak with your reporting officer. If you are not satisfied with his answers, then discuss the issue with HR. Please remember that your behavior while discussing the above issue should be polite and courteous, as the subject matter is sensitive. Through proper discussion, you will be able to bring about a change in the situation around you.

Regards,
Ashishkumar

The actual working hours for an employee are generally fixed at 8 hours a day and 48 hours per week, excluding breaks for lunch or otherwise, under Chapter 4 of the Factories Act, Shops & Commercial Act. The total spread of working hours should not exceed 10.50 hours per day.

If your establishment is violating these provisions, you can contact your HR or other responsible persons before escalating the issue to the designated authorities appointed under the legislature, i.e., the Labour inspector/shop inspector in your case.

Regards,
P K Sharma

You may consult a labor law expert for the same. This is definitely a wrong practice. However, please be aware of the practical situation that you will not be able to work in a private company, especially if it is a small one, after filing a case against the owner. We all can really understand. Also, just a suggestion: please look for a change and try to join an organized company with clear rules and regulations!

Hope it helps! All the best!

Apart from the inputs provided by the members above, I would like to know your designation to understand your job profile. Typically, an 8-hour workday is common for labor class profiles or in manufacturing companies. However, in the service sector, employees are sometimes required to work more than 8 hours, with shifts extending to 9-10 hours.