My boss says I have to work a lot of OT but I can't.

[Mr. Lucky]

I would love to be working that kind of OT! Is it not paying you at a rate of time and a half?

Dude, smarten up and work as much OT as you can. That is great money that you can be putting away.

 

Is it possible ironpony that you can make these two separate issues work together in your favor?

 

Take a hiatus from your film interest and work all the overtime your short-handed company will offer you for a year. At the same time, review your budget and living expenses to maximize your savings so you can create the largest nest egg possible.

 

Then, whether you move to Vancouver, Hollywood or Bollywood, you'd have enough to comfortably live on - perhaps with your GF? - while you pursue your dreams without the distraction of waiting tables or parking cars for cash flow.

 

Bonus points - your family gets to see the mature and responsible way in which you're preparing...

 

Mr. Lucky

[ironpony]

Are you sure you are not misinterpreting the laws ?

 

In the US you can work an employee as many hours as you need, 40 hours is the mark that they must be paid OVERTIME for hours past 40 and there is no limit to the number of hours in a work week, however as an employer 40 hours becomes the norm to shoot for as paying overtime in quantity isn't good for the company or the employee.

 

Yes I'm sure I looked it up and an employer cannot force an employee to work more than 44 hours a week, where I live, if the employer does not wish too.

 

Is it possible ironpony that you can make these two separate issues work together in your favor?

 

Take a hiatus from your film interest and work all the overtime your short-handed company will offer you for a year. At the same time, review your budget and living expenses to maximize your savings so you can create the largest nest egg possible.

 

Then, whether you move to Vancouver, Hollywood or Bollywood, you'd have enough to comfortably live on - perhaps with your GF? - while you pursue your dreams without the distraction of waiting tables or parking cars for cash flow.

 

Bonus points - your family gets to see the mature and responsible way in which you're preparing...

 

Mr. Lucky

 

Unfortunately no, cause I signed onto two filmmaking gigs right now, cause my boss told me that the job would be no more than 40 hours a week. So after I signed on, he then changes it to 60. I can't get out of the filmmaking gigs now, so I can't use it as an advantage to work a lot of overtime now and hold off.

 

But other filmmakers I know have day jobs, but then manage other people's projects around that time, and the boss doesn't surprise them with a lot of overtime for months on end. How do they do it?

[Mr. Lucky]

But other filmmakers I know have day jobs, but then manage other people's projects around that time, and the boss doesn't surprise them with a lot of overtime for months on end. How do they do it?

 

Uhhh...they work at a different company than you do?

 

Mr. Lucky

[alphamale]

ironpony have you ever entertained the idea of getting into the porn industry in the san Fernando valley of LA? filming and directing I mean (not acting). the money is good and lots of hot chicks

[ironpony]

Uhhh...they work at a different company than you do?

 

Mr. Lucky

 

Well what's the trick to getting a job like that? Cause this is the third company that changed it's OT ideals on me, causing me not to be able to commit projects well as a result. I feel others must be something to keep employers from forcing them to work OT.

[d0nnivain]

I feel others must be something to keep employers from forcing them to work OT.

 

You miss the point. The company isn't forcing you to work overtime. You have the choice to quit.

 

If you want them to pay you, then you will work what they ask of you. If you don't want to work when they ask you to, then you need to find someplace else to work. However you already know it's the same all over so you need to find a way to balance the competing demands on your time.

[alphamale]

You miss the point. The company isn't forcing you to work overtime. You have the choice to quit.

 

If you want them to pay you, then you will work what they ask of you. If you don't want to work when they ask you to, then you need to find someplace else to work. However you already know it's the same all over so you need to find a way to balance the competing demands on your time.

 

..indeed..

[BaileyB]

However you already know it's the same all over

 

It may be able to find a job that doesn’t require such overtime, but probably not in the same industry. If you are moving from one employer to another, in the same industry, you are likely to find the same issue.

[Art_Critic]

Yes I'm sure I looked it up and an employer cannot force an employee to work more than 44 hours a week, where I live, if the employer does not wish too.

Thanks

 

I did look this up, the maximum hours that can be worked is 48, not 44.

The employer may file for a permit to work an employee more than 48 hours but from what I read that isn't easy to do.

 

So if they are working you 50 then 2 hours of it is illegal, but they must pay overtime on hours past 40 regardless if they have a permit or not.

 

I guess in the end it comes down to how much you need your job to put food on the table, since they know the law and are willing to push past it chances are you would just be replaced with someone who was willing to work more hours.

[ironpony]

Thanks

 

I did look this up, the maximum hours that can be worked is 48, not 44.

The employer may file for a permit to work an employee more than 48 hours but from what I read that isn't easy to do.

 

So if they are working you 50 then 2 hours of it is illegal, but they must pay overtime on hours past 40 regardless if they have a permit or not.

 

I guess in the end it comes down to how much you need your job to put food on the table, since they know the law and are willing to push past it chances are you would just be replaced with someone who was willing to work more hours.

 

Oh actually 48 hours is in Ontario, Canada. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada where it's 44. It's here in on this site:

 

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/employment-standards/wages-and-pay/overtime/general-overtime-information

 

But I also called and asked the labor board personally and they said 44.

[elaine567]

Do you get paid for the film work?

[Art_Critic]

Oh actually 48 hours is in Ontario, Canada. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada where it's 44. It's here in on this site:

 

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/employment-standards/wages-and-pay/overtime/general-overtime-information

 

But I also called and asked the labor board personally and they said 44.

 

At 44 then the 6 hours they work you past the 44 is illegal but the advice is still the same. Unless you file a complaint the employer will just replace you so it comes down to what you want to do and how much you need the job and whether or not this is worth the time to file a complaint.

You could push back and just tell them the hours you can work and gauge their reaction to see if you would be successful in adjusting your hours

[ironpony]

Do you get paid for the film work?

 

Sometimes, I do, sometimes I do it for free, to gain experience, and build a resume.

 

At 44 then the 6 hours they work you past the 44 is illegal but the advice is still the same. Unless you file a complaint the employer will just replace you so it comes down to what you want to do and how much you need the job and whether or not this is worth the time to file a complaint.

You could push back and just tell them the hours you can work and gauge their reaction to see if you would be successful in adjusting your hours

 

I could try, I just have a feeling the other workers won't like me for it cause last time I tried, they acted like I was leaving them in the lurch, but I don't think it effected them though, as they still work the same OT if they want to, regardless if I don't or not.

[MetallicHue]

I understand working to advance your career. However you also have to pay bills. Sometimes things like what pays more may need to come into the discussion. I’ve grinned and bared my career because it’s stable and provides income for my family. You have to know when it’s worth taking a risk or not. Not telling you what to choose but just something to consider.

[ironpony]

Okay thanks, but I can still pay the bills without having to work that much overtime. I can still pay them at working 44 hours.

 

My friend says I should report it to the labor board cause that will get the employer back down if the labor board calls him on it, if that's true?

[BaileyB]

My friend says I should report it to the labor board cause that will get the employer back down if the labor board calls him on it, if that's true?

 

How much do you like to gamble ironpony? As has been previously said, how much do you need that pay check?

 

And, what kind of a working environment do you think you will have if you file a complaint to the labour board and they don’t decide to replace you? Just something to think about...

[Simple Logic]

I believe Labour law in Canada only required 1-1/2 for hours over 40 per week and no law that says an employer cannot require overtime.

[ironpony]

How much do you like to gamble ironpony? As has been previously said, how much do you need that pay check?

 

And, what kind of a working environment do you think you will have if you file a complaint to the labour board and they don’t decide to replace you? Just something to think about...

 

Well I talked to my friend and my dad, and they both had the same response, that they cannot fire you just because you complained to the labor board, if they do, that can have repercussions for them from the labor board.

 

Is that true, and they are right?

[BaileyB]

I’m not a lawyer. Talk to a lawyer.

 

My guess - No, they can’t fire you if they complain to the labour board. But, they can probably make your work life hell if you complain to the labour board.

 

I have a friend who didn’t complain to the labour board, but had a contentious workplace. He was put on nights because “he was single and didn’t have children.” He complained, they did nothing. He found another job.

 

As has been said above, as long as they are providing you proper working conditions and fair compensation for the hours of overtime you work, I don’t think there’s is any law in Canada that says your employer can’t require you to work overtime.

 

If you don’t like it, look for another job.

[elaine567]

Trouble is your workmates probably need the overtime, to feed their family or

to keep their head above water, so you complaining will no doubt make you persona non grata amongst your workmates, or even earn you a thick lip...

As BaileyB says your boss could also make your life hell.

Best idea, save yourself the hassle and find a 40hr job or a few P/T jobs that will give you more flexibility in the hours you work.

 

If you are serious about this film work then a job that requires you to work 50-60 hrs a week will never work. Time to forget this job, look for something else or realise that the film work will have to take a backseat for now.

[BaileyB]

Besides, even if you do complain to the labour board... it’s unlikely that you will get any response for a while. It’s a government agency, nothing happens quickly in government. And they are likely investigating other, more serious, complaints. It won’t solve your short term problem, thus allowing you to work on these films in the coming weeks....

[Fekenaws]

I'd try gearing up to find another job. The fact of the matter is, regardless of where you live, the employer will have more power than the employee. This is especially true if the workforce isn't unionized. I went to college so I never worked a factory job, but before I graduated I was forced into overtime in customer service jobs several times. Whenever I gear up for an interview now one of my first questions is about work-life balance followed up by salary requirements. I work to live, I don't live to work.

[ironpony]

Oh okay, well I asked in the last two interviews if there was a lot of overtime, and they both said no, just occasionally, once in a while, but then once I was hired, I realized they meant frequent overtime and lots of it.

 

Well I feel like will not be able to do another week over the overtime with the filmmaking commitments I made to other people's productions. I have to tell them I can only work 44 hours a week.

 

But do I act like I have another job and I have to work 44 hours cause of it, otherwise, I don't get near enough sleep which is true... Or should I tell them I am only working 44 hours a week, but this allows them to pick when during the week they want me to, as oppose to saying I have another job at a certain time?

[Pastypop]

I would lie and say I have to go take care of a sick family member who is having surgery. Because of HIPPA, he can’t legally ask a bunch of questions about it. I do this every year in my short term jobs so I can a take a vacation. I get much needed time off to travel without the threat of getting fired or getting grief about it.

[Rockdad]

Pastypop I know as an employer pretty much when I am being played, lied to or stolen from. I may not be legally able to make a move on it in that exact moment but I sure don't forget it either. I'm not the only employer or supervisor by far that has staff figured out. I suggest the best course of action is being a person of merit at your work place however if the job is not fitting for one give notice and move on.