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They pointed out much of the overtime was done during unsocial hours, adding these were “highly-trained and experienced professionals” so it was reasonable for them to value their time “at appropriate rates”.

However, a spokeswoman said the successful firms had submitted bids "within a pre-determined bid range set by the trusts" and the pay rates reflected factors like covering unsocial hours.

When asked whether he said, at one gathering, it was the "most unsocially distanced event" in the UK, he couldn't deny he said it.

They work long, unsocial hours and a multimillion-pound company like Mitie can easily afford to pay them decently for the essential work they do.

The tone of voice suggests that I am hiding and being unsocial, when in fact the friend hasn’t reached out to me, either, during that time.