I work for the Navy (paycheck says DoD); when they furloughed us to 80% time, they told us they didn't want us working unpaid overtime because it would send the

I work for the Navy (paycheck says DoD); when they furloughed us to 80% time, they told us they didn't want us working unpaid overtime because it would send the wrong message to upper management (that message being "hey, you can cut 20% of our budget and still get the same results!"). With the exception of the obvious mission critical support stuff (where shifts were rearranged), they wanted things like phones going unanswered. It makes sense to work "unpaid" overtime in a startup, or a business where it will advance your career or help you succeed. Unpaid overtime in the public sector is rarely rewarded; most who do it are really idealistic or just care about getting the job done. And while I love writing software, if they tell me I might be arrested for working on government code, I will just spend my extra time on my personal projects at home. Or hiking, climbing, playing music, etc. Once the furlough is over, I (and many others I know) will go back to putting in the unpaid hours to get the job done.