outside of work hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "outside of work hours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a person's activities that are not related to their job during the hours when they would usually be at work. For example: "John likes to take cooking classes outside of work hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

They called one another on the phone, were more comfortable contacting each other outside of work hours, and talked for longer when they connected.

Harvard Business Review

He blamed numerous modern trends on eroding that bonhomie — including harsher political ads demonizing members of Congress, members traveling more frequently to their districts rather than spending time getting to know each other outside of work hours, and the instantaneous news updates available online.

The Washington Post

The bigger picture is that by keeping employees more engaged and supported at work, including outside of work hours, they become more invested in the workplace and are likely to stick around longer.

TechCrunch

Chances are, either you, a loved one, or someone you work alongside has experienced a mental health challenge – something no one can simply leave at home and deal without outside of work hours.

Forbes

It would appear that, just like everyone else, it's totally normal for Polish people to spend all day doing a job that forces them to save their drinking for outside of work hours.

Vice

It's impossible to get an appointment outside of work hours.

The Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

What are the best ways of switching off outside of working hours?

The Guardian

"We could hire her outside of working hours to come to bed with us.

The New Yorker

There are also concerns that for many patients, especially the elderly and long-term ill, seeing the same doctor at every appointment is more important than being able to visit outside of working hours.

Independent

Last year, they gave people the legal right to disconnect from work — no checking emails or taking calls — outside of working hours.

Forbes

Boredom comes from within so find ways to educate yourself – take online classes and create a learning plan on your own and outside of working hours.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outside of work hours" to clearly delineate activities or communications that occur during an employee's personal time, ensuring a distinction from their professional responsibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "outside of work hours" when you actually mean activities that should be completed during paid work time. This distinction helps maintain clear expectations about when work tasks should be performed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outside of work hours" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs by specifying when an action occurs, indicating that it takes place during non-working time. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "outside of work hours" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase that indicates activities occurring during non-working time. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase serves to clarify boundaries between professional responsibilities and personal time, appearing commonly in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity to avoid confusion with tasks meant to be completed during working hours. Alternative phrases like "after work" or "in one's free time" can provide suitable substitutes depending on the specific context. Considering the various authoritative sources Ludwig provides, using this phrase accurately contributes to clear and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after work

This alternative is shorter and more informal.

in one's free time

This alternative emphasizes personal time and leisure.

during off-hours

This alternative is more concise and professional.

beyond the workday

This alternative highlights the boundary of the working day.

in leisure time

This alternative focuses on the relaxed aspect of non-work time.

after business hours

This alternative is specific to business contexts.

on personal time

This alternative emphasizes the time belonging to the individual.

during one's own time

This alternative stresses individual ownership of the time.

following the completion of work

This alternative is formal and emphasizes task completion.

subsequent to employment duties

This alternative is highly formal and legalistic.

FAQs

How can I use "outside of work hours" in a sentence?

You can use "outside of work hours" to describe activities employees do in their free time, like "John enjoys painting "after work"", which is to say, "John enjoys painting "outside of work hours"".

What are some alternatives to "outside of work hours"?

Some alternatives to "outside of work hours" include "after work", "in one's free time", or "during off-hours" depending on the context.

Is it correct to expect employees to respond to emails outside of work hours?

While it may sometimes be necessary, routinely expecting responses "during off-hours" can lead to burnout. Setting clear boundaries is crucial.

What is the difference between "outside of work hours" and "during work hours"?

"Outside of work hours" refers to the time when an employee is not expected to be working, while "during work hours" refers to the time they are actively engaged in their job responsibilities.