Työaikalisä

Työaikalisä, often translated as overtime pay or additional working time compensation, is a legal concept in Finnish labor law that pertains to remuneration for work performed beyond an employee's standard contractual working hours. When an employee works more hours than stipulated in their employment contract or collective agreement, they are typically entitled to extra compensation for this additional time. The specific rules governing työaikalisä are outlined in the Working Time Act (Työaikalaki) and are further detailed in various collective bargaining agreements.

The calculation of työaikalisä usually involves a percentage increase on the employee's regular hourly wage. The percentage can vary depending on factors such as the number of overtime hours worked, the time of day or week the overtime is performed (e.g., evenings, nights, weekends, or public holidays), and the terms of the applicable collective agreement. For instance, overtime worked on a Sunday might command a higher percentage increase than overtime on a weekday evening.

In addition to monetary compensation, an employer may, in certain circumstances and with the employee's consent, offer compensatory time off instead of financial payment for overtime. This compensatory leave must generally be equivalent in value to the overtime pay that would otherwise be due. The purpose of työaikalisä is to discourage excessive working hours, compensate employees for the extra effort and potential disruption to their personal lives, and ensure fair remuneration for all labor performed.