overtime / extra work
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overtime
Work performed beyond the contractually agreed or usual working hours; overtime.
Wegen des dringenden Projekts mussten alle Mitarbeiter Mehrarbeit leisten.
Because of the urgent project, all employees had to work overtime.
The word is simple in structure and easy to understand directly: it is made up of 'mehr' (more) and 'Arbeit' (work). So it literally means 'additional work'.
Jede Änderung am Plan bedeutet Mehrarbeit für das gesamte Team.
Every change to the plan means extra work for the entire team.
'Mehrarbeit' (overtime / extra work) is almost always used as an uncountable noun in the singular. You say 'viel Mehrarbeit' (a lot of extra work), but normally not 'viele Mehrarbeiten'.
Durch die Krankheit meiner Kollegin habe ich gerade sehr viel Mehrarbeit.
Because my colleague is sick, I currently have a lot of extra work.
The exact meaning depends on the context. If it is about paid working time and overtime hours, the first meaning is intended. If it is generally about additional effort for a task, the second meaning is intended.
Die Firma muss die geleistete Mehrarbeit extra bezahlen.
The company has to pay extra for the overtime worked.
In a professional context, 'Mehrarbeit' (overtime) is often used with the verb 'leisten' (to perform/do). A supervisor can also 'anordnen' (order) or 'anweisen' (instruct) overtime.
Die Mitarbeiter waren bereit, für das Projekt unbezahlte Mehrarbeit zu leisten.
The employees were willing to work unpaid overtime for the project.
When talking about additional effort, people often say that something 'Mehrarbeit verursacht' (causes extra work) or 'zu Mehrarbeit führt' (leads to extra work). It is often combined with adjectives like 'erheblich' (considerable) or 'beträchtlich' (substantial).
Die unklaren Anweisungen haben zu erheblicher Mehrarbeit geführt.
The unclear instructions led to considerable extra work.
overtime
'Überstunde' and 'Mehrarbeit' both mean work that goes beyond what is normal. 'Überstunde' is usually a single extra working hour or a precisely countable amount of time after regular working hours. 'Mehrarbeit' sounds a little more general. It can mean additional working time, but also extra effort on a task when something takes longer or becomes more difficult than planned. Learners may confuse the words because both occur in work contexts. When you are counting hours, 'Überstunde' is especially natural. When you are talking generally about additional work or effort, 'Mehrarbeit' fits better.
Wegen der neuen Regeln entsteht im Büro viel Mehrarbeit.
Because of the new rules, a lot of extra work is being created in the office.
Frau Yilmaz hat gestern eine Überstunde gemacht, weil ein Bericht fertig werden musste.
Ms. Yilmaz worked an hour of overtime yesterday because a report had to be finished.