Hours worked refer to the actual time an employee spends performing work-related activities on behalf of an employer. It includes all the hours an employee is required or allowed to work, whether those hours are performed on-site or remotely.

Example
A full-time employee's regular working hours are from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. During this time, the employee is actively performing their job duties, attending meetings, and engaging in other work-related activities. These hours are considered hours worked and are subject to regular compensation.