Overtime, by definition, is still time on the clock, and voluntarily staying to work that time doesn't automatically mean that your employer is now a charity. You can't just "volunteer" for your employer. The very premise itself is silly. Sure, if you're on a salary that is exempt from overtime pay, you'll probably have to work some extra hours during times of high workload, but it's expected that, in turn, during times when there is less work to be done you'll still get paid your full salary. But, if you're a waged worker who is recording your time, you're going to get paid for your overtime. Unless your manager is prone to the silliness I mentioned earlier and thinks that "voluntary" is the operative word in the phrase "voluntary overtime" and thinks that, as a result, they can somehow regard your increased time at work as a charitable act.
It seems outrageous, but that's what this worker reported experiencing when they were asked to help out another department at the university where they worked with a large event that they were organizing. They agreed to help, but when they went to submit their timesheet at the end of the pay period, their manager denied them the additional hours because they had "volunteered" for the event. See their post and account of events below, along with reactions from readers in the online workplace community where they shared their story.
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