In today's tight labor markets, you need to be aware of how the demand for overtime can lead to a negative and dangerous cycle. Excessive overtime causes employee burnout and increases safety incidents. It also damages productivity, health and morale - which increases sick days, tardiness, absenteeism and turnover. This, in turn, creates a greater need for overtime and the cycle repeats itself.
Mandatory overtime raises uncomfortable safety and health questions. It's not unheard of for workers to be engaged in day after day of 18-hour workdays. In addition to on-the-job safety and performance problems, the result can be incidents and near-incidents on the commute home.