In the business world, putting in extra time has long been considered commendable. It might harm your bottom line if you push your employees too hard for too long. Working overtime is commonly accepted as a norm by many workers and companies, who also believe that doing so demonstrates an employee’s diligence or increases productivity. The drawbacks sometimes outweigh the benefits of working overtime working. The reality is that excessive overtime work can eventually cause employee burnout and lower employees’ productivity levels.
In this article, we’ll examine what overtime is, the benefits and drawbacks of working long hours, and how they affect both productivity and mental health.
Read Also: WHAT IS OVERTIME PAY: Meaning, How It Works, Example & Rate
Working Overtime
When you stay at work past the contractually required and agreed-upon hours, you are considered to be working overtime. Although most employees are familiar with the idea of working overtime, it can be detrimental to productivity. You may receive a higher wage from some employers for putting in more time, though the amount varies considerably between businesses.
The United States Fair Labor Standards Act mandates that any employee who clocks in for more than 40 hours in a workweek be compensated with overtime pay. In-house labor shortages are among the most frequent causes of overtime work by employees. This may occur as a result of other workers being absent due to illness, childbirth, or vacation time, or because the business is unable to afford to hire enough workers to finish all of the work that needs to be done.
Working overtime is unavoidable, particularly when you are nearing a deadline or need to close a deal when your coworkers are away and you must fill in for them, or if it’s just a busy season and you need to lend a helping hand to your team to meet goals.
However, when it starts to become the norm, you should consider whether the additional work is worthwhile or whether your overtime is making you burn out, feel unappreciated, and be unproductive.
Why Do Most People End up Working Overtime?
#1. There Is Too Much Work.
The most frequent cause of having to work overtime is an overabundance of work, which is bad if it’s a recurring problem. Their manager needs to reevaluate the workload if many employees wind up working extra hours frequently.
#2. Distractions at Work
Like meetings, other office-related distractions can keep us from getting work done and increase the amount of time it takes to finish a task. While encouraging collaboration, open offices also make it more difficult to focus. Most people find it difficult to focus again after being diverted.
How to Decide if You Should Work Overtime
#1. Assess Your Financial Needs.
If you’re looking for a way to supplement your income, working overtime can be a great option. Without needing to apply for another position or feeling overburdened by a specific job with potentially different responsibilities, you can continue completing your work.
#2. Examine Whether Your Boss Rewards You for Doing Extra Work.
Whether your manager appears to value other team members who put in extra time should be considered before you decide to work overtime. Working overtime could also be a great way to be recognized for your dedication to your job if you’ve seen your coworkers get promoted after frequently putting in extra time.
#3. Examine the Company’s Policy
Some businesses have rules or restrictions regarding how much time is considered overtime pay and whether it is acceptable for employees to work beyond their regular schedules.
Is It Worth Working Overtime?
Although earning extra money by working overtime is beneficial, spending an extra hour with friends and family can be just as valuable. You should only agree to work overtime when you are certain that it will fit into your schedule and won’t significantly disrupt your normal routine.
Benefits of Working Overtime
For employees, working overtime may have both benefits and drawbacks, including:
#1. It’s Better Than Working a Second Job
Working extra hours allows you to earn money at a job you are already comfortable with, which is one of its many advantages. Another way to earn extra money is to work two jobs, but doing so necessitates learning new skills and possibly new work environments.
You can typically extend your hours at the same place by working overtime. If you had a second job, you would have to carefully plan your day so that you could commute between the two places of employment and home, which would take up more of your free time.
#2. You’ll Have Better Working Relationships.
You’ll spend a lot of time with your coworkers whether the company requires overtime or just a few employees choose to work extra hours. Developing a better working relationship with your coworkers is one of the benefits of working overtime.
#3. Additional Cash
Working overtime entails receiving extra pay for additional hours, typically 1.5 to 2 times your hourly rate. With overtime pay, you might be able to increase your take-home pay and have more money for savings, vacations, and other living expenses.
#4. Career Advancement
By demonstrating your dependability and drive in your position, going above and beyond the call of duty may also help advance your career and potential earnings. Working extra hours as a volunteer demonstrates to your current employer your commitment to excellence.
#5. Develop Expertise
Working extra hours gives you the chance to develop your skills and gain work experience. Usually, the more you practice something, the better you get at it. Increasing your knowledge and expertise is one of the benefits of working overtime.
Disadvantages of Working Overtime
#1. Risk to One’s Safety and Health
Depending on the job, staying at a job for long hours can be risky. Regular overtime work can also harm your ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance, cause burnout, or pose health risks due to prolonged computer use. These dangers have led to an increase in businesses setting time restrictions for certain occupations, like truck driving.
#2. There Is Less Work-Life Balance
Working overtime cuts down on the amount of time available for a healthy work-life balance because there are only 24 hours in a day. Less time for family, recreation, and sleep results from longer workdays.
#3. It Might Result in a Lack of Job Satisfaction
Everyone wants to maximize their workdays, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Even if you enjoy what you do, going too far can make it difficult to maintain your zeal and enthusiasm for every task. You risk running out of motivation and inspiration, which will reduce your productivity and cause your career to stagnate. Additionally, you might start to hate the things you once felt so strongly about.
#4. Negatively Impacts Your Physical Health
Today’s workforce faces a number of challenges, chief among them the fact that most work is in front of a computer. It may seem harmless to stay in this position for an additional hour each day, but doing so will eventually harm your health.
#5. It Harms Your Mental Well-Being.
When compared to the harm that living a sedimentary lifestyle causes to one’s cardiovascular system, you consider working overtime positively insignificant.
#6. Overall Burnout
If employees work a set number of hours more, they may quickly become burnt out. As a result, the additional money becomes less motivating and more stressful. This may result in increased output at the expense of quality, which could lower an employee’s sense of pride in their work.
#7. You Might Experience Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue.
Sleep is necessary for healthy functioning. According to studies, getting a good night’s sleep changes how the brain processes stress and anxiety. There’s a good chance that working long hours will cut into your sleep time. You may have trouble falling asleep even after going to bed. The following morning, you are less patient and more worn out than usual.
#8. Increasing Employer Costs
When you regularly pay time and a half to a large number of your employees, you are paying more than you are accustomed to, which reduces the additional profit you would otherwise make from the increased output of goods and services.
What Does Working Overtime Mean?
You can refer to any hours that workers clocks in that go beyond their regularly scheduled working hours to as overtime.
Is It Ok to Work Overtime?
Working additional hours can be a great way to demonstrate your commitment to your job and company while also increasing your pay. However, you should confirm that you’re keeping a healthy work-life balance and that your overtime work will be beneficial before you agree to put in the extra hours.
How Much Overtime Is Too Much?
Working more than 55 hours a week can be harmful to your health, according to a recent World Health Organization and International Labour Organization study.
Why Is Working Overtime Good?
- Promotional Opportunities
- Extra cash
- Increased productivity for the business
- Enhanced Skills
Why Is Overtime Bad for Employees?
Stress, a poor work-life balance, a lack of downtime, and health risks are some of the significant effects. Lowering employee performance levels is another option. Long work hours may cause fatigue, drowsiness, and a lack of focus. Therefore, there have been recommendations made for risk reduction.
Why Is Working Overtime Pointless?
You are not allowing your mind to rest and recharge by working overtime. You are continuously stressing about it. And this might be a key factor in the longer time it takes you to finish a task. Therefore, it could be said that working longer hours makes you less productive.
Conclusion
Working any additional hours past the regularly allotted working time is referred to as working overtime. Whatever your circumstance, keep in mind that the short-term gains from working overtime for you, your career, and your employer pale in comparison to the long-term losses. Always find time to rest and strike that work-life balance.
Working Overtime FAQs
What is Overtime Working?
When you stay at work past the contractually required and agreed-upon hours, you can say that such an employee is working overtime
Is It Worth Working Overtime?
Working additional hours can be a great way to demonstrate your commitment to your job and company while also increasing your pay, and it also shows your commitment to your employer.
Why Is Working Overtime Good?
- Promotional Opportunities
- Extra cash
- Increased productivity for the business
- Enhanced Skills
Related Articles
- OVERTIME PAY: Meaning, Formula & How to Calculate It
- ADVANCE PAYMENT: Detailed Guide
- CLOCK IN WORK: What It Is, How It Works & Free Apps
- WHAT IS OVERTIME PAY: Meaning, How It Works, Example & Rate
- EMPLOYEE BURNOUT: Obvious Signs & How to Prevent It
- Benefits of Eating Healthily in College
References
