Overtime spending

Request data on overtime hours worked and costs by department.

Overtime spending can be a sign of understaffing or poor workforce planning. The figures show which departments are relying most heavily on overtime and how much it costs.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information for [FINANCIAL YEAR e.g. 2024-25]: 1. The total cost of overtime payments across the authority. 2. A breakdown of overtime costs by department or service area. 3. The total number of overtime hours worked across the authority. I would prefer to receive this as a spreadsheet or CSV if possible. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Any Scottish public authority: council, health board, or government agency. Find the right authority on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • High overtime spending in a particular department may indicate persistent vacancies or insufficient staffing. Compare it against staff vacancy data for context.
  • If you already know which department you are interested in, name it in the request to narrow the scope.
  • Some authorities include overtime figures in their annual accounts. Check what is already published before submitting your request.