noun
time and a half
TYME and a HAF
Time and a half (noun) means a rate of pay equal to one and a half times an employee's normal hourly wage, usually paid for overtime, weekends or public holidays. Example: “Anything over forty hours a week is paid at time and a half.”
noun
1
A rate of pay equal to one and a half times an employee's normal hourly wage, usually paid for overtime, weekends or public holidays.
"Anything over forty hours a week is paid at time and a half."
"She picked up the Sunday shift because it was time and a half."
How to use time and a half
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGetting paid one and a half times your usual hourly rate.
When to use it
Standard workplace and payroll English on both sides of the Atlantic. Written without hyphens as a noun.
Memory tip
Note the fixed shape of the phrase: "time and a half", never "a time and half".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
paid at time and a half
earn time and a half
time and a half for overtime
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Anything over forty hours a week is paid at _____.
Synonyms
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overtime rate
premium pay
1.5x pay
Antonyms
straight time
flat rate
Related words
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate time and a half?
Multiply the normal hourly rate by 1.5, then multiply by the number of qualifying hours. At £14 an hour, time and a half is £21 an hour, so six overtime hours pay £126. In the United States, federal law requires it for most hourly workers beyond 40 hours in a workweek.
What is the difference between time and a half and double time?
Time and a half pays 1.5 times the normal rate; double time pays twice it. Time and a half is the standard overtime premium, while double time is usually reserved for public holidays, very long shifts or terms negotiated in a union contract.
Is time and a half required by law?
In the United States, yes, for non-exempt employees working over 40 hours in a week under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In the UK there is no legal overtime premium — pay above the normal rate depends entirely on the employment contract, provided average pay does not drop below the minimum wage.
What is the meaning of time and a half?
"time and a half" (noun) means a rate of pay equal to one and a half times an employee's normal hourly wage, usually paid for overtime, weekends or public holidays.
