on the clock
1
during the hours that one is required to be working
The origin of the idiom "on the clock" can be traced back to the early 20th century and is related to the practice of tracking time worked by employees. In industrial settings, employees would often punch a timecard or clock in and out to record their hours of work. It is commonly used in workplaces to refer to employees who are in their designated working hours and expected to perform their job duties.
- He's getting paid overtime for working on the weekend, but only for the hours he's on the clock.
- He's on the clock right now, so he won't be able to take your call.
- She clocked in at 9:00 AM and won't be off the clock until 5:00 PM.
- The company policy prohibits employees from using company resources for personal use while on the clock.
- The employees are only paid for the time they are on the clock, so they can't work off the books.