Overtime: questions and Band 8 answers

To be honest, not very often these days. I try to stick strictly to my normal working hours, though during busy periods, like the end of the financial quarter, I usually end up staying late at the office for a couple of hours.

Well, it can be quite draining. If it happens occasionally, I don't really mind, especially if there's a tight deadline to meet. But when it becomes a routine, it definitely chips away at my work-life balance and leaves me exhausted.

I usually just head straight home and unwind. Most evenings, I'll cook a quick comfort meal or order a takeaway, and then watch an episode of a drama series before going straight to sleep to recharge my batteries.

I'd definitely lean towards having more free time. Extra money is nice, of course, but having the chance to switch off, spend time with friends, or go for a run in the park is far more valuable to me than a slightly bigger payslip.

I hope not, to be fair. As I gain more experience in my career, I'd like to work smarter rather than just clocking up extra hours at my desk. Efficient time management should hopefully keep my evenings free.