Complaint About Unpaid Overtime

When and how to use this letter

Send this letter after you have a clear tally of unpaid hours and at least one ignored verbal request. Overtime disputes are won on records, so before writing, pull together timesheets, shift logs, emails asking you to stay late, and any messages approving the extra work. Calculate the amount owed using your contract's overtime rate.

Send the complaint by email to your manager with HR copied in, so it cannot be quietly buried. State the period, the total hours, and the amount, and set a clear deadline for payment, such as fourteen days. Keep the tone professional; you are stating a contractual entitlement, not making a personal attack.

If the deadline passes without payment, escalate to a formal grievance and then to your labor authority. Many countries have wage-claim processes that are free and fast, and employers face penalties for unpaid wages. Keep every payslip and your employment contract, since the overtime rate must be checked against what you were actually paid.

One non-obvious tip: start keeping your own daily log of start and finish times, including a quick photo of any clock-in screen or a timestamped message to yourself. Company time systems can be edited or lost, but your independent daily record is very hard for an employer to dispute later.

Frequently asked questions

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