Ask PayslipIQ · Last reviewed 2026-05-08
My overtime was not paid. What do I do?
Step 1: confirm whether your contract says overtime is paid, time-in-lieu, or unpaid. Step 2: log the unpaid hours with dates. Step 3: raise it informally with your line manager. Step 4: if not resolved, escalate via your employer's grievance process or contact ACAS for free advice.
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, payroll, accounting, pension, benefits or employment advice. Always verify your payslip, tax code, deductions and take-home pay with your employer's payroll department, HMRC, your pension provider, a qualified accountant, tax adviser or another appropriately qualified professional.
The /overtime hub has a template message you can adapt for the first conversation with payroll.
Overtime that should be paid but is not amounts to unlawful deduction from wages. ACAS provides free advice on this and is the right first call before any formal step.
If you are an agency or umbrella worker, the situation is different: the umbrella company's contract often explicitly states whether overtime is at the same rate, premium, or unpaid. Read the assignment schedule and the umbrella terms before raising it.
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Reviewed by PayslipIQ Editorial. Sources cited where applicable.
PayslipIQ provides educational information and estimated calculations only. It does not provide tax, legal, financial, payroll, accounting, pension, benefits or employment advice. Always verify your payslip, tax code, deductions and take-home pay with your employer's payroll department, HMRC, your pension provider, a qualified accountant, tax adviser or another appropriately qualified professional.