Background: I work in a factory and there is occasional mandatory overtime that I've had to work. Recently, I was transferred to a different department and I've had to work mandatory overtime every weekend since moving. From the others in the department I've talked to, this is really common to the point where they expect to have 1 Saturday off per month if lucky.
This is ridiculous but they get away with it because wE aRE pAyINg OVeRtiMe. It's ironic because these same people will tell you money isn't everything when you ask for a raise. It's frustrating because I cannot plan my life outside of work. I have and will be forced to work the weekend and occasionally be forced to take 12-hour shifts during the week; both with less than 48 hours notice.
My solution: Rewrite the Fair Labor Standards Act to overhaul the overtime requirements:
For voluntary overtime (only if requested by the employee so they don't create a culture of pressuring you for overtime): 1.5x base pay
Mandatory overtime with at least a 14 day notice: 2x base pay.
Less than a 14 day notice: 3x base pay.
They either need to make it worth my while to work 6 days a week and miss out on life or stop with their inept ability to plan.