irregular working hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "irregular working hours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a work schedule that does not follow a standard or consistent pattern, often varying from day to day or week to week. Example: "Due to the nature of the job, employees often have to adapt to irregular working hours that can change at short notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Relationship satisfaction appeared to buffer the effects of frequent moving, somatic disease, maternal smoking, family income, irregular working hours, dissatisfaction at work, work stress, and mother's sick leave (P < 0.05).

BMC Public Health

They described that shift work, with irregular working hours, as something that inhibited patient safety because it led to non-continuity of care, both for the nurses who have to report to many different colleagues and for the patients who meet many different health care professionals.

BMC Nursing

Significant interaction effects (P <0.05) were found between relationship satisfaction and the following eight predictors: dissatisfaction at work, work stress, somatic disease, maternal smoking, low family income, irregular working hours, mother on sick leave and frequent moving.

BMC Public Health

In turn, my body temperature, fat levels (now you're talking), blood pressure, alertness, mental performance and the synthesis and secretion of numerous hormones are all going haywire, sent into a mad spin by irregular working hours.

The Guardian - Money

He also explained that the benefit of offering 24/7 opening times has also helped, as users can enjoy the flexibility of benchpressing at 3am in a world where shift patterns, and irregular working hours, are becoming the norm.

Independent

Finally, persons who are unemployed or who have occupations with irregular working hours (e.g., writers) or close sustained contact with alcohol (e.g., diplomats and bartenders) may be prone to the development of alcoholism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

We included two dichotomous variables on the respondent's working hours: shift work and irregular work hours.

BMC Public Health

Foreign languages are always useful and commitment to irregular (often long) working hours is important.

The Guardian

This is partly caused by irregular and long working hours and the crossing of time zones.

BMC Public Health

In addition, the long, irregular and inflexible working hours have the potential to adversely affect family dynamics.

Human Resources for Health

Ideally, insulin treatment should be adaptable to changes in daily activities (e.g., varying working hours, irregular eating patterns, or traveling) rather than requiring patients to adjust their lifestyle.

Diabetes Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of employment conditions, specify the particular challenge posed by "irregular working hours", such as difficulty in maintaining work-life balance or health problems.

Common error

Don't use "flexible working hours" when you mean "irregular working hours". Flexible hours imply some degree of employee control, while "irregular working hours" often denote unpredictable or inconsistent schedules imposed by the employer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "irregular working hours" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. It describes a specific type of work arrangement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

29%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "irregular working hours" effectively describes a work schedule that deviates from the norm, often characterized by unpredictability and variability. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is perfectly acceptable and usable in written English. It's frequently used in scientific and news contexts to discuss the impacts and challenges associated with such work arrangements. Distinguishing it from "flexible working hours" is crucial, as flexibility implies employee control, whereas irregularity suggests employer-driven inconsistency. When writing about employment conditions, use this term precisely to convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

non-standard work schedule

Replaces "irregular" with "non-standard" to emphasize the deviation from typical work patterns.

unpredictable work hours

Focuses on the lack of predictability in the work schedule.

variable working hours

Highlights the fluctuating nature of the work hours.

erratic work schedule

Highlights the inconsistent and unpredictable nature of the work hours.

unconventional work hours

Uses "unconventional" to convey the idea of being outside the norm.

atypical working hours

Uses "atypical" to denote deviation from the standard.

flexible working arrangements

Emphasizes the adaptability and lack of fixed structure in the work schedule.

sporadic work hours

Indicates that work hours occur at irregular intervals.

unfixed working hours

Stresses the absence of a set or permanent schedule.

shift work

Specifically refers to working in shifts, which often implies irregularity.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "irregular working hours" in a sentence?

Use "irregular working hours" to describe work schedules that vary and are not consistent. For example, "The job requires employees to work "irregular working hours", including nights and weekends."

What are some alternatives to "irregular working hours"?

You can use alternatives like "non-standard work schedule", "unpredictable work hours", or "variable working hours" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "flexible working hours" and "irregular working hours"?

"Flexible working hours" implies the employee has some control over their schedule, while ""irregular working hours"" suggests a less predictable schedule often determined by the employer.

Why are "irregular working hours" often considered a disadvantage for employees?

"Irregular working hours" can disrupt work-life balance, making it difficult to plan personal activities, and can potentially lead to health issues due to inconsistent sleep patterns.