non-working hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"non-working hours" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to the times when someone is not working, such as evenings, weekends, and holidays. For example: "We suggest that during non-working hours you take time to relax and unwind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

But the reality is a 68-hour working week, poverty wages, no contracts or payslips, and being locked inside factory and dormitory compounds during working and non-working hours.

The Guardian

Interviews were conducted during the summer of 2009 with a computer-aided telephone interview system during both working and non-working hours to reach a wide variety of patients g.

BMC Health Services Research

But then an array of prejudice and error: they presume that a pool of any significance will be in a position to choose between a working more hours continued subsidies; that "not working" always means "not having a job"; that anyone given the choice not to work, won't; that non-working hours will always be spent self-indulgently; that the only meaningful use of one's time is to earn a wage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Time management isn't only about working hours, but also non-working hours.

Forbes

"In particular, we are interested in what they were doing when they were not working, where they ate, slept and spent non-working hours.

Stanford University

That may seem straightforward enough, but here's the rub — this clause could also include work you did for your startup during non-working hours using your own property.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

We spent every waking, non-working hour together, and we were supposed to move in together last year.

Vice

He has houses in Boulder and Austin, and a seven-hundred-and-twenty-acre non-working ranch an hour outside of town, where he and Deborah spend many weekends.

The New Yorker

When looking more closely at the pattern for the intention to stay with respect to working-time characteristics, Figure  1 shows that, in the Netherlands, it seems to be lowest for people with a commuting time above an hour, followed by people working non-standard working hours, part-time or overtime hours.

Human Resources for Health

Concerning the variables descriptive of the workplace, non-typical working hours, night shifts and working over hours without compensation were frequently reported (70% for work at weekends, 53% for working at night and 45% for extra hours).

BMJ Open

A preliminary analysis revealed that non-working caregivers spent more hours on caregiving per week on average than did working caregivers.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling tasks or meetings, always consider the "non-working hours" of your team members to respect their personal time and avoid burnout.

Common error

Avoid using "after hours" interchangeably with "non-working hours" in contexts where you need to refer to all time outside of work, including weekends and holidays. "After hours" typically refers specifically to the time immediately following the end of the workday.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "non-working hours" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an adverbial modifier to specify when certain activities occur or should not occur. This is supported by Ludwig AI's analysis and examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

46%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "non-working hours" is a common and grammatically sound term used to refer to the time outside of regular work schedules. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to define periods when work-related activities are not expected, promoting work-life balance and setting operational boundaries. This phrase appears frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts, indicating its broad applicability. While synonyms like "off-hours" and "leisure time" exist, "non-working hours" provides a clear and neutral way to delineate work from personal time. It's important not to confuse it with "after hours", which typically refers only to the period directly after the workday. Using "non-working hours" thoughtfully can help create a healthier and more productive work environment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

off-hours

Replaces "non-working" with "off", implying a contrast to regular work periods.

time off work

Emphasizes the absence from the workplace.

free time

Highlights the lack of obligation during these hours.

time off

A simpler way of saying time away from work or other responsibilities.

after-work hours

Specifically refers to the period following the end of the workday.

leisure time

Focuses on the recreational aspect of time away from work.

non-business hours

Highlights the time outside of standard business operation.

non-duty hours

Specifically used in fields like military or emergency services to refer to off-duty periods.

personal time

Indicates that the time is available for personal activities and not work-related tasks.

down time

Suggests a period of reduced activity or relaxation.

FAQs

How to use "non-working hours" in a sentence?

You can use "non-working hours" to refer to times outside of a typical work schedule. For example, "Employees should refrain from sending emails during "non-working hours" to promote work-life balance."

What can I say instead of "non-working hours"?

You can use alternatives like "leisure time", "off-hours", or "free time" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "non-working hours" or "after hours"?

"Non-working hours" is generally used to refer to all time outside of work, including evenings, weekends and holidays, while "after hours" typically refers specifically to the time immediately following the end of the workday.

What's the difference between "non-working hours" and "personal time"?

"Non-working hours" is a more general term for time outside of work, while "personal time" emphasizes that this time is available for individual activities and not work-related tasks. The first is a description of a temporal interval, the second describes its use.