Lessons

The hours nobody paid you for

What it is

Your contracted hours. Plus the extra hours you actually work. Plus the commute, if you count travel as time you sold.

Why it matters

Your contract sets your pay. Your real hours set your rate. Work more hours for the same pay and the rate drops. Nobody announces that. It never appears on a payslip.

The method

Write your contracted hours a week, honestly. Then the extra. Staying late. Work carried home. Messages on Friday night. The commute is yours to decide. It is time you cannot sell to anybody else.

Example

Salma is contracted for 40 hours. Marking and parent calls add about 15. That is 55. On paper she earns PKR 484 an hour. On the real 55 hours she earns PKR 352.