Overtime

Overtime is work done in excess of 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.
If in a sector working time is organised in e.g. 3-week periods, overtime is generally work in excess of 120 hours in a three-week period.

The same hourly limits apply to part-time workers.
Workplaces may use a working time adjustment system, where working time is not limited to the above maximum working times, and working time can vary within the system and within defined adjustment periods. In these situations the definition of overtime is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Overtime is different from extra hours worked by part-time workers. Extra hours are hours worked by part-time workers in addition to the hours in their employment contracts. Normal wages are paid for these hours. Under the law, employers are required to offer these hours to their own part-time workers who have said that they want extra hours before hiring new workers.

Overtime is voluntary
Working overtime is always voluntary for an employee and an employer must ask an employee to do overtime.
There are different definitions of overtime in different collective agreements.
Click below to read the key points for your agreement sector. You can also find more information in the collective agreements.

Retail
Hospitality services
Ski resorts
Activity programmes
Amusement parks
Photofinishing labs
Hairdressing sector
Facility services sector

Retail
The aggregate maximum of regular hours and extra hours in the retail sector for example is 40 hours. Work done in excess of this is overtime.

Workplaces may use a working time adjustment system, where weekly working time is not limited to the above maximum working times, and working time can vary within the system and within certain defined adjustment periods. In these situations the definition of overtime is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Part-time workers
Normal wages are paid for extra hours up to 37.5 hours. If an employee works 37.5 - 40 hours a week, increased wages are paid for the extra hours in excess of 37.5 hours. For work done in excess of 40 hours, overtime pay is paid.

Hospitality services

The aggregate maximum amount of regular hours and extra hours in hospitality services is generally 120 hours in a three-week period. Work done in excess of this is overtime. For the first 18 hours of overtime pay is increased by 50% and after that by 100%.
In the working time adjustment system for full-time employees, overtime is defined as follows:
6x3 week system: the first 7.5 hours in excess of 130 hours in a three-week period are extra hours.
After 137.5 hours the first 18 hours are overtime, for which pay is increased by 50% and after that pay is increased by 100%.

A workplace may also operate an individually agreed working time adjustment system, where working time in a three-week period is not limited to the above maximum working times, and working time can vary within the system and within defined adjustment periods.

Examples of these systems include the 9 x 3 week system, where in a three-week period for work done in excess of 136 hours, 7.5 hours are extra hours. Work done in excess of 143.5 hours is overtime, and for the first 18 hours pay is increased by 50% and for additional hours by 100%.

A workplace may also operate annual working time, or “working time account”, where pay for work done in a three-week period in excess of 150 hours is increased 100%.

Part-time employees
Hours worked by an employee on a part-time employment contract in addition to the hours in their employment contract are extra hours up to 120 hours in a three-week period. Hours worked in excess of this are overtime.

Extra hours are paid at the normal hourly rate, and overtime pay is paid for overtime. For the first 18 hours of overtime pay is increased by 50% and after that by 100%.

Avecra Oy train service personnel
Overtime is work done in excess of 120 hours in a three-week period. For the first 18 hours of overtime pay is increased by 50% and after that by 100%.

In the working time adjustment system for full-time employees, overtime is defined as follows:
6x3 week system: the first 4 hours in excess of 124 hours in a three-week period are extra hours.
After 128 hours the first 18 hours are overtime, for which pay is increased by 50%. For hours in excess of that pay is increased by 100%.

Ski resorts
Overtime is work in excess of 120 hours in a three-week period. For the first 18 overtime hours, pay is increased by 50% and after that pay is increased by 100%.
In the adjustment period for full-time employees, overtime is defined as follows:
6x3 week system: the first 7.5 hours worked in excess of 135 hours in a three-week period are extra hours. The first 18 hours after 142.5 hours are overtime, and pay is increased by 50%. For hours in excess of this, pay is increased by 100%.
Annual working time: hours worked in excess of 150 hours in a three-week period are overtime, and pay is increased by 100%.

Activity programmes
Overtime is work in excess of 120 hours in a three-week period. For the first 18 overtime hours, pay is increased by 50% and after that pay is increased by 100%.

If an adjustment system is in use, overtime is
6x3 week system: hours worked in excess of 144 hours (or locally agreed 150 hours) in a three-week period are overtime. For the first 18 hours, pay is increased by 50% and after this pay is increased by 100%.
The collective agreement also allows for a locally agreed system. 

Amusement parks
Overtime is work done in excess of 120 hours in a three-week period. For the first 18 overtime hours, pay is increased by 50% and after this pay is increased by 100%.

In two-week periods, overtime is work done in excess of 80 hours. For the first 12 overtime hours, pay is increased by 50% and after this pay is increased by 100%.
In the working time adjustment system for full-time employees, overtime is defined as follows:
6x3 week system: the first 6 hours in excess of 130 hours in a three-week period are extra hours. The first 18 hours in excess of 136 hours are overtime, and pay is increased by 50%. After this pay is increased by 100%.
9x2 weeks: the first 4 hours in excess of 87 hours in a two-week period are extra hours. The first 12 hours in excess of 91 hours are overtime, and pay is increased by 50%. For hours in excess of this, pay is increased by 100%.
Annual working time:
The first 6 hours in excess of 136 hours in a three-week period are extra hours. The first 18 hours in excess of 142 hours are overtime, and pay is increased by 50%. For hours in excess of this, pay is increased by 100%.
For the first 12 hours in excess of 91 hours in a two-week period, pay is increased by 50% and after this pay is increased by 100%.

Photofinishing labs
The aggregate maximum amount of regular hours and extra hours in the photofinishing labs sector is 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. Hours worked in excess of this are overtime.
Workplaces may use a working time adjustment system, where weekly working time is not limited to the above maximum working times, and working time can vary within the system and within defined adjustment periods. In these situations the definition of overtime is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Part-time workers
In a part-time employment contract, extra hours are hours worked between the agreed working hours and 40 weekly hours. Hours worked in excess of this are overtime, for which overtime pay is paid.

Hairdressing sector
The aggregate amount of regular hours and extra hours in the hairdressing sector is 8 hours a day and 37.5 hours a week. Hours worked in excess of this are overtime.
Workplaces may use a working time adjustment system, where weekly working time is not limited to the above maximum working times, and working time can vary within the system and within defined adjustment periods. In these situations the definition of overtime is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Part-time work
During bans, employees on a part-time employment contract may work up to 37.5 hours a week. Hours worked in excess of this are overtime.
Normal pay is paid for extra hours, overtime pay is paid for overtime. For employees on a part-time contract, extra hours are hours given to an employee on a part-time employment contract up to 37.5 hours a week.

Facility services sector
Overtime is hours worked in excess of 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. An employer also cannot require extra hours to be worked up to 40 hours in excess of the agreed 37.5 hours. If an adjustment system is in use, an employer cannot change the working hours previously agreed in the work schedule.

On-call duty during overtime ban
An overtime ban does not affect previously agreed on-call duty. During on-call duty only work is done that cannot be postponed and done in regular working time without risk.