When i owned my own company I didn’t want people to work overtime by choice. I’ did everything possible not to make people do OT, but in my line of work OT happens. I understood people have families and prior engagements or plans. In some cases there was simply a need for it. I offered and most people took it. The ones that didn’t I eventually stopped offering the ot. But then they also were the ones who were told to stay home for a few days or laid off when work slowed. They also did not get company trucks to take home, gas cards and their bonuses were smaller if they got them at all. There was also absolutely NO advancement in their position. Raises? Nope. I’m not required to give raises. I worked 14/16 hours a day 6 sometimes 7 days a week to make sure that everyone had work, jobs were coming in everyone got bonuses new cars etc. It’s a two way street. I figured since they don’t need the money that bad they must not need the work that bad either. Trust me every one of your coworkers and managers knows you won’t do ot.

Generally, it does look bad if you're trying to opt-out when everyone else is having to work OT to keep the ship afloat.

If they need OT like that on a frequent basis it means they don't have enough regular employees.

You're right, but being right doesn't change the reality, which is that the employees who do extra when asked will be looked on more favorably.

I work 9hr days with an hour for lunch plus 40 minutes of commuting one way. At the 8hr mark my productivity goes kaput. I'm just about ready to head to the house. Pulling a double shift would pertnear kill me.

Yeah, it kind of does, but it depends on the situation. Are you working overtime because the work is important? Or is it because you are too slow to clear your own tasks? For me, my daily workload requires at least 30 minutes after work to clear up. Clients also regularly task us to deal with entrenched problems which can take days to even learn about let alone how to solve. To make matters worse, various personalities will send us their wonderful new initiatives and reports to comb through with a toothpick.

No. It's showing that you don't live beyond your means is all.

It's not good that you refuse to work OT all the times. You don't have to accept every time they ask, but at least you need to accept two or three times a month. And there are some others like to work OT too.

I don't believe you can judge whether a person would be willing to put in the time/energy/effort as a manager "when things get tough" by how much overtime they work. That's just my opinion. I get the whole rest of it. In my line of work, managers are salaried and they give their LIFE to that position. I chose not to, because I am not willing to give up my life for it, so I have never applied for advancement to a management position in this particular field. Ain't gonna do it. It's why I also generally take 'time' over 'money' if I have a choice when I do overtime. Can't buy me time, but 4 hours off another time works for me.

The next time they ask, tell them, "Sure, if you let me off tomorrow.".

It shouldn't, but it probably does, if they're the types to constantly be offering to those on your level.

Yes.

It might look bad to some of them, but who cares? It's not mandatory, they are just offering. If someone else wants the extra money let them have it. It sounds like it's a crap place to work from you previous posts, so work your 40 and keep looking for something better. My bf never works OT unless he's froze. He works in a prison and OT is the whole next shift, so it's 16 hours. There are places that have to do it that way, just depends on the set up.

Would you be paid for the overtime work? And if so how much?

Occasionally working OT can be helpful, but if your company is constantly short handed, that is a bigger problem.