off the clock
Done for today
Off the clock describes time when an employee is not being paid for work, the opposite of on the clock.
It often appears in discussions of labor practices: They made us attend meetings off the clock without compensation.
The phrase extends beyond employment to mean informally or unofficially, suggesting actions taken outside one's professional capacity: Off the clock, she's actually quite friendly.
Someone might offer advice off the clock to signal they're speaking personally rather than in their official role.
- unpaid laborWork done without payment
- hobbiesLeisure activities for pleasure
- leisure activitiesPursuits during free time
- free timeUnscheduled personal hours
- personal timeHours for oneself
me time · downtime · overtime · break time · stress relief · off duty · networking · volunteering · family time · quality time · shift work · relaxation · moonlighting · freedom · vacation · gig economy · punch out · time card
off the clockon the clock
During paid hours
on duty · working · at work · on the job · punched in
clock, clocks, clocked, clocking, clockwise, clockwork, counterclockwise