Definition: Hours worked

Category: Labour market

Hours worked is the concept of working time used in the framework of statistics of labour costs, in particular to calculate the "hourly labour costs" 

Hours worked are defined as:
a) hours actually worked;
b) hours worked in addition to the hours actually worked during normal working hours, irrespective of the hourly pay rate applied. i.e. one hour worked at double time should be entered as one hour.
Working hours also include:
a) time spent on tasks such as work preparation, preparing, maintaining and cleaning tools and machines and writing up work cards and reports;
b) time spent at the place of work during which no work is done owing to, for example, machine stoppages, accidents or occasional lack of work but for which payment is made in accordance with the employment contract;
c) short rest periods at the place of work, including tea and coffee breaks.
Hours actually worked do not, however, include the following:
a) hours paid but not worked e.g. paid leave, public holidays, sick leave, short-time work, etc.;
b) meal breaks;
c) time spent travelling between home and place of work.
d) hours worked for which the employee receives no compensation.