The Overtime Debate: Exploring the Pros and Cons

Overtime work is a controversial topic between companies and employees.

However, it can be a necessary part of the job for some employees, whether it's to meet a deadline, complete a project, or cover for a colleague. While extra hours can be rewarding and sometimes lead to career advancement, they can also affect an employee’s physical and mental health. It's important for both employees and companies to be aware of the potential risks and benefits of overtime work and to find a balance that works for everyone.

Defining Overtime

Now, to answer something we all know: working overtime is defined as any time worked beyond the hours stated in a contract. They are usually compensated at a higher rate than their regular pay rate to compensate for the extra time and effort of the employees involved.

The desire for overtime is strongly interrelated with economic, social, and institutional aspects. This can include anything from staying an extra hour or two at the office to working weekends or holidays.
Only a handful of people can say that they enjoy working overtime. Even fewer companies want their employees to stretch their hours. With the increased costs of overtime work, fewer companies want their employees to work outside their regular hours as well.

Why Do Employees Work Overtime?

They might be trying to meet a deadline or finish a project. It might be necessary if an employee has taken on more work than they can handle within their regular hours or if a project has unexpected delays or complications.

Another reason employees might work overtime is to earn extra pay. While overtime pay is typically required by law in many countries, not all companies offer it. Even if it is not for an increase in hourly wage, employees might choose to work overtime to boost income.

An employee might feel pressured by the company or colleagues to work overtime. This can be especially true for industries where long hours are seen as a badge of honor (e.g. healthcare) or where there is a culture of "face time" – being seen as working hard by being present at the office for long periods of time.

While putting in extra hours can be rewarding and can lead to career advancement, it can also take a toll on an employee's physical and mental health.

All in all, there are different reasons why employees decide to put in some extra hours and, of course, different ways this is rewarded - in monetary terms, additional time off, a promotion, etc.

Can Working Overtime Affect Your Wellbeing?

Without healthy boundaries, overtime work can indeed take a toll on your physical and mental health.

One of the biggest risks of working overtime is burnout. Working too many extra hours can be physically and mentally exhausting, leading to decreased productivity, difficulty concentrating, and other negative impacts on employees’ health and well-being.

Working overtime can also be disruptive to your personal life. It can lead to a lack of work-life balance, making it difficult to find time for family and social commitments. This can be especially challenging for people who have caring responsibilities, such as children or elderly family members.

Productivity can also suffer with working overtime. Fatigue from working overtime can reduce mental clarity and make it more difficult to concentrate. With a lack of concentration, employees are prone to reduced quality of work and poor productivity.

Lastly, overworking is an issue that needs to be discussed more and should be mentioned. There are various negative impacts on employees’ physical and mental health, from fatigue, stress, depression, anxiety, and so on.

Is Working Overtime Right for You?

Whether or not you should work overtime depends on your circumstances and priorities. If you're considering adding some extra hours to your work day, it's important to weigh the pros and cons and consider how it will impact your overall well-being.

If you decide to work overtime, it's essential to manage it in a healthy and sustainable way, such as by taking breaks, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep.