[OAC_Sparky]

In their defense, overtime is overtime.

I work at least 60 hours a week, I nearly double my salary. But that's my choice, I sacrifice my time and health and my family life to get ahead. Do you think my time is free? I would assume no matter where you work you would expect to get paid for the time you put in.

If you work a 40 hour week, are self-employed, that's your decision. Overtime premium is a labour law requirement.

Instead of pointing in amazement at the dollar figure, understand the time these people put in. Many, many companies would rather pay people overtime than hire more people because the fixed cost of benefits, vacation, pensions, etc. cost more than the overtime they pay.

Example 1.

Company X pays two employees each $50G a year plus $25G a year in benefits, pensions and associated administrative and tax costs (CPP, health tax, workman's comp insurance, vacation time, vacation pay). So the normal workload cost is $75G each for a total cost under normal circumstances of $150G. But because the company is busy instead of hiring a third person, they offer each employee 20 hours extra a week to make up the 40 manhours. Overtime premium, their gross will increase by 85% to about $90G for each, but the $25 benefits stay the same. Total cost for two people doing the work of 3: $230G

Example 2

Company Y is busy, hires a third person, each work 40 hours. Cost: $75G x 3 =$225G, so they save $5G more than Company X. Company slows down, now they have extra baggage. Total cost, $225G, $75G more than company X. Lay one guy off, a lot of companies are still on the hook for benefits for a time. That guy might now take all his training and all that money you invested in him and go work elsewhere, and the next time things get busy, you have to hire and train someone all over again.