overtime
OH-ver-TYM
/ˈoʊvərtaɪm/
Time worked in addition to one's normal working hours, or the pay received for such work.
Overtime usually refers to hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour week. In many countries, law requires that overtime be paid at a higher rate (like 'time-and-a-half').
The story behind the word. A straightforward English compound that appeared in the mid-19th century during the Industrial Revolution. As factories began using clocks to strictly regulate the workday, any work done 'over' the allotted 'time' required a new name and a new pay scale.
Word relationships
- extra hours: Extra hours is the plain description; overtime is the specific payroll term.
Commonly confused with
- bonus: Overtime is pay for extra time; a bonus is pay for extra quality or results.
Collocations
- overtime pay
- work overtime
- mandatory overtime
- unpaid overtime
Example sentences
- "The men worked overtime to finish the bridge before the spring floods." A historical report on labor.
- "I've put in twenty hours of overtime this month, but I'm still behind on my projects." A modern workplace complaint.
Memory hook
OVER-TIME: You are working OVER the limit of your normal TIME. Beyond the clock.
When not to use
Salaried 'exempt' employees often work extra hours without receiving 'overtime' pay; in that case, they are just 'working late.'
Fun facts
- In some countries, working overtime is culturally expected and rarely paid, while in others, it is strictly regulated by unions.
- The record for the most overtime in a sports game is often much more grueling than a standard workday!
Explore more words
make up for lost time, overspend, outsourcing, overestimate, supererogatory, productivity
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