Heures supplémentaires interim is an important tool in meeting organizational needs. It allows agencies to meet project demands and maintain continuity in critical service areas when the need arises. In addition, it helps ensure that staff can work the required number of hours to maintain eligibility for pay under state and federal law. It can also help employers retain valued employees and promote productivity by providing opportunities to develop skills and increase incomes. The negative consequences of excessive overtime, however, are substantial for some employees, and it is therefore important to manage overtime carefully.

While many positions are exempt from the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Washington Minimum Wage Act (WMWA), temporary and nonexempt hourly paid employees (those in position titles labeled “nonexempt” in Workday or Kronos) must be compensated for overtime if they work over 40 hours per week. This compensation is provided as time and a half of the employee’s regular wage rate for hours worked in excess of their scheduled shift.

Balancing Act: Managing Temporary Overtime in the Workplace

Some participants in this research reported working excessive hours because they were not in control of how their overtime was arranged. Others worked overtime to gain a competitive advantage in the job market. Others were involuntarily compelled to do so due to the demands of their supervisors. Finally, some cited a need to conform in order to achieve a group goal such as completing a project. Overtime induced by conformity exerts a greater adverse impact than overtime that is voluntary.