Cathy is paid at a rate of K 7.20 per hour for a basic hour-week of 70 hours. She is paid time-and-a-half for over-time during the week, and double-time on weekends. In a fortnight she worked 160 hours, and 4 hours on Saturday and 2 hours on Sunday.
(a) How many hours does Cathy work in a fortnight?
(b) Calculate over-time earned during the week.
Answer (2)
Calculate the total basic hours for the fortnight: 70 × 2 = 140 hours.
Calculate the overtime hours during the week: 160 − 140 = 20 hours.
Cathy worked 20 hours of overtime during the week in the fortnight.
The overtime earned during the week is 20 hours.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given that Cathy worked 160 hours during the week in a fortnight. We need to calculate the overtime hours earned during the week.
Calculating Total Basic Hours First, we need to find the total basic hours for the fortnight. Since Cathy works a basic 70-hour week, for a fortnight (two weeks) the basic hours are: 70 hours/week × 2 weeks = 140 hours
Calculating Overtime Hours Next, we determine the overtime hours worked during the week in the fortnight. Cathy worked 160 hours during the week in the fortnight. So, the overtime hours are the difference between the total hours worked during the week and the basic hours: 160 hours − 140 hours = 20 hours
Final Answer Therefore, Cathy worked 20 hours of overtime during the week in the fortnight.
Examples
Understanding overtime calculations is crucial in many professions. For instance, if a nurse's basic work week is 40 hours and they work 48 hours in a week, they have 8 hours of overtime. Calculating this accurately ensures fair compensation and helps in managing work-life balance. This concept extends to various fields, from construction workers to office employees, highlighting the importance of understanding and calculating overtime hours correctly.
Cathy worked a total of 160 hours in the fortnight, including 20 hours of overtime. Her overtime compensation amounts to K 216.00. This calculation helps ensure she is fairly compensated for her additional work hours.
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