Question 1

How do I calculate hours worked?

Accepted Answer

Subtract the start time from the end time for each day, then subtract unpaid breaks. A 9:00–17:00 shift with a 30-minute lunch is 8 hours minus 0.5 = 7.5 hours. Add each day to get your weekly total; hours past 40 typically count as overtime.

Question 2

How do I handle overnight shifts?

Accepted Answer

When the end time is earlier than the start time (e.g. 22:00 to 06:00), the shift crosses midnight — this calculator automatically adds 24 hours, giving an 8-hour shift. Payroll systems handle it the same way.

Question 3

Are lunch breaks paid?

Accepted Answer

Under US federal law, bona fide meal breaks of 30+ minutes where you are fully relieved of duty can be unpaid. Short breaks of 5–20 minutes must be paid. State rules vary — California requires meal breaks after 5 hours; some states have no break requirements at all.

Question 4

How are hours converted to decimal for payroll?

Accepted Answer

Divide the minutes by 60: 7 hours 45 minutes = 7.75 hours. Payroll always uses decimal hours to multiply by hourly rate. Common conversions: 15 min = 0.25, 30 min = 0.5, 45 min = 0.75.

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