Part of the series

Several example codes

~2 min read • Updated Oct 6, 2025

Program Overview

This Python program reads employee data in a loop:
- For each employee, it reads their ID and overtime hours
- The input ends when the user enters 99 as the employee ID
- The program then displays the three employees with the least overtime hours


Python Code:


# List to store employee data
employees = []

while True:
    emp_id = int(input("Enter employee ID (99 to exit): "))
    if emp_id == 99:
        break

    overtime = float(input(f"Overtime hours for employee {emp_id}: "))
    employees.append((emp_id, overtime))

# Sort by overtime hours
employees.sort(key=lambda x: x[1])

# Display top 3 with least overtime
print("\nThree employees with the least overtime:")
for emp in employees[:3]:
    print(f"Employee ID: {emp[0]} | Overtime: {emp[1]}")

Sample Output:


Enter employee ID (99 to exit): 101  
Overtime hours for employee 101: 12.5  
Enter employee ID (99 to exit): 102  
Overtime hours for employee 102: 8  
Enter employee ID (99 to exit): 103  
Overtime hours for employee 103: 15  
Enter employee ID (99 to exit): 104  
Overtime hours for employee 104: 6  
Enter employee ID (99 to exit): 99  

Three employees with the least overtime:  
Employee ID: 104 | Overtime: 6.0  
Employee ID: 102 | Overtime: 8.0  
Employee ID: 101 | Overtime: 12.5

Step-by-Step Explanation:

- The program loops until 99 is entered
- Each employee’s ID and overtime hours are stored as a tuple
- The list is sorted by overtime hours using lambda
- The first three entries are printed as the lowest overtime workers


Written & researched by Dr. Shahin Siami