Among the sectors in which overtime is regularly paid are telecom, auto, services, and IT, while most employers in the construction and retail sectors and the food industry do not award overtime.

“It all depends on the effect that the departure of an employee has. For example, in the case of a call-centre, if an employee because overtime is not paid, the company risks losing dozens of clients,” said Madalina Popescu, General Manager of the Pluri Consultants recruitment company.

The Dacia carmaker is one of the companies that appreciate overtime. “Some of our employees also work on Saturdays and Sundays. According to the collective work contract, for each hour of overtime we pay 50 percent more than for a normal working hour,” said Constantin Stroe, the company’s Vice President.

The Accenture training company gives its employees a choice in terms of overtime compensation. “Overtime is compensated by taking the ‘spirit’ of the law into account, so the employee can choose between free time and payment,” said Carmen Dumitrache, Human Resource Lead within the company.

According to Dragoş Frumosu, President of the Federation of Trade Unions in the Food Industry (FSIA), the payment of overtime is a rarity in this sector. “Here, unpaid overtime is becoming a rule, especially in the cold meats industry,” said Frumosu.