Could working overtime make you less productive?

The short answer is yes.

Do you regularly find yourself staying late at work to finish things off, logging back in after dinner, or working through weekends just to stay on top of everything?

You’re not alone.

In today’s fast-paced work culture, the pressure to constantly be “on” is incredibly common. Demanding workloads, tight deadlines, or the internal drive to prove yourself are all reasons many professionals find themselves slipping into a routine of consistent overtime often without even realising it at first. It starts with “just a little extra today,” and slowly becomes the new normal.

The “Go Home On Time Day” report by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work estimated on average, Australian employees reported they performed 3.6 hours of unpaid work in the week of the survey, equivalent to 10.9% of total working hours. That’s 188 hours per year per worker, or almost five standard 38-hour work weeks, equating to more than $91 billion of lost income per year!

Realistically, occasional stretches of overtime are sometimes unavoidable, but working long hours on a regular basis can quietly take a toll on your well-being. It seems that working overtime has become the norm rather than the exception, so why do you put in so many extra hours? And is it a sign of dedication to your employer, or are you doing more harm than good? What impact on productivity is “just a little extra” having on your overall output?

Nicole Gorton is a director at Robert Half with over 20 years of experience in recruitment. She says productivity has been on the minds of employers and employees for years now, with both parties taking action to improve it.

“From a recruitment standpoint, we’re seeing more candidates prioritise roles where productivity is valued over presenteeism. Workers want to be efficient, not exhausted. There’s a growing awareness that sustainability in the workplace matters, especially in the context of today’s workplace emphasis on work life balance. True productivity is about maintaining a healthy, effective pace over time."

In this blog we will explore what impact on productivity working overtime has, and whether you need to recalibrate your workday to sustain a healthy work life balance and high output.

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Working overtime: Going above and beyond

Whilst 38 hours per week is the suggested maximum (for a full-time employee) outlined by the Australian Government's Fair Work Ombudsman, overtime can easily build up, from starting work early, finishing late and skipping lunch. Even when you leave the office you may still be in work-mode, doing extra tasks at home, feeling obliged to respond to emails or answering calls.

Technology can be partly to blame, as it enables you to easily be connected, whether you’re on the train, at home, or even on holiday.

You may feel obligated to do overtime because some of your colleagues are, so you want to look like a team player. The pressure to work long hours can be even more intense if you’re concerned about your job security and you feel that by putting in extra hours you can show your dedication to the job. Overtime may also help to impress your manager and could even lead to better job prospects in the long-term.

Is working overtime having an impact on productivity?

Yes, yes it is. For most of us anyway.

When you’re staring down a full calendar and an endless to-do list, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the solution is simply to put in more hours. On the surface, it makes sense, more hours should mean more work gets done, right?

But the reality is far more complex. Research consistently shows that productivity doesn’t increase in a linear fashion with time. In fact, once you cross a certain threshold—often around 40 to 50 hours per week—your effectiveness begins to decline, sometimes dramatically. The more hours you put in, the less productive you become over time. Why? Because your brain and body are not machines. They need recovery, downtime, and variety to perform at their best.

Regularly working overtime doesn’t just eat into your productivity, it gradually erodes your energy, your focus, and even your confidence. As fatigue sets in, your ability to concentrate diminishes. You become more prone to distractions, errors, and forgetfulness. Tasks that might normally take 30 minutes could take twice as long when you're mentally drained. Worse, chronic exhaustion can create a sense of emotional detachment from your work, reducing your creativity, engagement, and sense of purpose.

The takeaway here is that more hours do not automatically equal more results. In fact, they often do the opposite, negatively having an impact on productivity. Sustainable efficiency comes from working smarter, not longer. From building in breaks, setting boundaries, prioritising rest, and knowing when to step away, these are all ways to help you manage your workload while protecting your time and energy.

Related: 15 easy tips to boost your work productivity

SUBMIT YOUR RESUME

Can you really say “no” to working overtime?

Under Australia's new "Right to Disconnect" laws, you do have the ability to refuse unreasonable requests to work overtime or respond to work-related communications outside your regular working hours. These changes, which came into effect from August 26, 2024, for most businesses and extending to small businesses from August 2025, aim to support employees in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The legislation allows employees to decline monitoring, reading, or responding to work-related contact outside their standard hours, unless such refusal is deemed unreasonable. So, depending on the situation, you can say no.

According to research conducted by Robert Half in June 2024, 70% of employees said they would feel comfortable ignoring calls or emails from their employer outside of work hours when the ‘right to disconnect’ came into effect*. Additionally, 31% of employees said the ‘right to disconnect’ would improve their productivity during business hours*. Read the full findings in our press release.

Whilst it might not be possible to reduce your hours like in Sweden, you could review the amount of overtime you agree to. Continuing working overtime on a regular basis, as we have established, can have a negative impact on productivity and personal health. Whereas saying an outright “no” to working any overtime could give you the reputation of being a clock-watcher or you may seem not committed to your job.

If you have an important deadline to meet, or an urgent task to work on, you may decide to put in some extra hours, to offer your support. During these short bursts of overtime, you can remain productive, but in the long run, excessive hours can be counterproductive.

The key is to create a balance and carry out overtime strategically rather than making it the norm. Balance is different for everyone so your personality, outside commitments, the type of job and job satisfaction will play a big part in deciding what works for you.

Related: What impact will the ‘right to disconnect’ have on Australian workers?

Productivity vs time – which one will you pick?

Rather than measuring your effectiveness by how many hours you put in, change your focus so you look at how much work you get done during your workday – It’s about working smarter not harder. Interestingly, Parkinson’s Law says that humans expand their work to fill the time available. So, being strict about setting a time for when you will leave the office, could mean that you get work done much quicker than if you planned to work overtime. To boost your work productivity, you must also stay focused and avoid distractions.

You’ll need to be disciplined and set proper boundaries to ensure your work doesn’t continue to creep into your personal life. But by doing so, you will benefit from having more time to spend doing things outside of work that you enjoy. You will have time to rest and relax so when you return to work the next day, the negative impact on productivity levels will remain low.

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* The study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted online in June 2024 by an independent research company, surveying 1,000 full-time office workers across Australia. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management, and trends in the workplace.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the 5 main factors that affect productivity?

Skills

Technology

Work environment

Motivation

Processes

Which three factors most impact productivity?

While it is highly dependent on the individual, skills, tools an environment will likely have the biggest impact on productivity.

What impacts employee productivity?

Employee productivity is a multifaceted outcome influenced by individual capabilities, the work environment, and organisational structures. Factors like skills, motivation, and well-being at the individual level intertwine with the quality of the physical workspace, available technology, and clear communication. Effective leadership, streamlined processes, well-defined goals, and opportunities for growth and recognition further shape productivity levels.

How to calculate productivity impact?

The impact of productivity is typically calculated by comparing outputs to inputs. This can be done using various formulas depending on what you're measuring (e.g., labour productivity = output/labour hours).To assess the impact of changes or interventions, you would compare productivity metrics before and after the change. For example, if a new technology is implemented, you'd compare the output per labour hour before and after to see the impact. This often involves analysing changes in efficiency, output volume, cost savings, or time saved.

Could working overtime have an impact on productivity?

Working overtime: Going above and beyond

Is working overtime having an impact on productivity?

Can you really say “no” to working overtime?

Productivity vs time – which one will you pick?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)