The spelling of the word "overtime" can be confusing due to the variation in pronunciation across different English dialects. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), the word is transcribed as /ˈoʊvərˌtaɪm/. The first syllable "o-" is pronounced like "oh," followed by "v" and "ər" sounding like "uh-r," and "t" and "aɪm" sounding like "tie-m." The word refers to the additional time an employee works after their regular working hours and is commonly used in industries such as sports and finance.
Overtime refers to the additional period of time worked beyond the regular or standard work hours, primarily in the context of employment. It occurs when an employee exceeds the predetermined working hours or exceeds the daily or weekly limit set by an employer or labor regulations. Overtime often entails being compensated at a higher rate than the normal pay for the additional hours worked.
Overtime can be both voluntary and mandatory. Voluntary overtime happens when an employee willingly agrees to work beyond their scheduled hours, often due to personal preference or financial incentives like higher pay or additional benefits. Mandatory overtime, on the other hand, is imposed by the employer due to various reasons like high workload, unexpected customer demand, staffing shortages, or emergency situations.
Furthermore, overtime is subject to specific regulations and laws that vary across countries or regions. These regulations typically address the maximum number of hours an employee can work in a day or week without triggering overtime, the rate at which overtime should be compensated, and any additional benefits or entitlements associated with it.
Overtime can provide employees with the opportunity to earn extra income, enhance their financial stability, or fulfill specific career goals through added work hours. Nevertheless, excessive or prolonged overtime might lead to negative consequences, such as increased stress, fatigue, and potential health risks.
Time employed in labour beyond the usual hour.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "overtime" originated in the late 19th century, combining the prefix "over-" (meaning beyond or exceeding) and "time". It initially referred to the extra time beyond normal working hours that an employee is expected or required to work. This term is commonly used in sports as well, referring to additional playing time beyond the standard duration of a game in order to determine the winner.