outside working hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"outside working hours" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to times that are outside the normal hours of a job, typically meaning after working hours. For example: "I prefer to go to the gym outside working hours, so that I don't have to miss any of my shifts at work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Some health workers also receive an 'on-call allowance' when being called to work outside working hours.

BMC Health Services Research

Therefore, as several VHWs indicated, adding this program to their present workload would present challenges because of the extra time needed to conduct after hours home visits with the mostly male smokers who work during the day: "We need to go to their houses outside working hours in order to meet them as they go to work.

BMC Health Services Research

His main gripe was that detainees don't receive any climate-appropriate clothing other than their working clothes, which they are not allowed to wear outside working hours.

Vice

The fourth episode of the series focuses on the personal struggles and complications that characters face outside working hours.

University of California, Berkeley

My sales job involves a lot of driving and I have a company car which I also have the use of outside working hours.

Independent

It is common for employees to use the internet at work for personal use, and most employers are content to let them do so during their lunch break or outside working hours.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Before yesterday, the Department of Buildings had recorded 30 complaints related to the property, many logged by neighbors contending that construction crews worked outside regular working hours.

The New York Times

Work outside ordinary working hours is sometimes compensated by an 'extra hours allowance'.

BMC Health Services Research

The average amount of "extra work" occurring outside normal working hours is seven extra hours per week – nearly another full day, says Good.

TechCrunch

Much of the work is 'invisible' to those outside the Program as it occurs away from the health centre, outside standard working hours and is conducted in local languages.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Thus, having the power to negotiate the extent to which paid work is done outside formal working hours is good for mental health.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing work-life balance, use "outside working hours" to clearly delineate between professional and personal time.

Common error

While "outside working hours" is widely understood, be mindful of cultural differences in work schedules and expectations. In global contexts, consider specifying the timeframe more precisely (e.g., "after 6 PM local time") to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outside working hours" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action occurs or a state exists beyond the typical timeframe of work. It specifies the timing of an event in relation to the established work schedule. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is a common expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outside working hours" is a grammatically sound and widely used adverbial phrase that defines the time periods beyond the normal workday. Ludwig AI confirms its consistent use and acceptability. It's commonly found in News & Media and Scientific sources. While straightforward, paying attention to cultural context ensures clear communication. Alternatives such as "after hours" provide simpler options, but "outside working hours" gives precision when needed. Consider that while the phrase itself is widely understood, it's essential to set clear expectations around contacting employees during these times to support work-life balance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after hours

A more concise and common way to refer to time after the regular workday.

non-working hours

Directly contrasts with working hours, emphasizing the absence of work.

after business hours

More specific to business contexts, indicating time after the close of business.

out of hours

A British English variant of "after hours".

during off-hours

Highlights the 'off' or free time.

in one's free time

Focuses on the personal time available outside of work.

on personal time

Emphasizes that the time is dedicated to personal activities.

beyond the workday

Highlights the boundary between work and personal time.

outside of business operations

A more formal way to specify time outside of operational hours.

during leisure time

Emphasizes the recreational aspect of time outside of work.

FAQs

How can I use "outside working hours" in a sentence?

You can use "outside working hours" to specify when something occurs beyond the typical workday. For example, "The gym offers classes "after working hours"." or "Employees should not be contacted "outside working hours" unless it's an emergency."

What is a simple substitute for "outside working hours"?

A simpler substitute is "after hours". For example, "The building is locked "after hours"."

Is it acceptable to contact employees outside of working hours?

While acceptable in emergencies, frequent contact "outside working hours" can lead to burnout. Consider alternatives like scheduling emails or respecting employee's "personal time".

What is the difference between "outside working hours" and "during working hours"?

"Outside working hours" refers to time when an individual is not expected to be working, typically evenings, weekends, and holidays. "During working hours" refers to the time when an individual is actively engaged in their job or profession. For example, "Meetings are scheduled "during working hours"" versus "Emails should be checked "outside working hours" only if urgent."