An
overtime ban is a form of
industrial action where
employees limit their
working time to the hours specified in their
contracts, refusing to work any
overtime. Overtime bans are less disruptive than
strike action, and since there is no breach of contract by the employees there is less chance of disciplinary action by the employer than there is with strikes. However, an overtime ban can have a significant impact on industries which normally operate outside of regular office hours, such as
emergency services,
public transport, or
retail.