How to calculate hours worked
Calculate each punch segment in minutes, subtract unpaid meals once, and total the worked time for each day and workweek.
From punches to worked hours
- Subtract each clock-in time from its matching clock-out time.
- If the out time is earlier, add twenty-four hours before subtracting.
- Sum the segments and subtract any unpaid meals still inside them.
- Divide worked minutes by sixty to obtain decimal hours.
For example, 8am–5pm is nine elapsed hours. Subtracting a thirty-minute unpaid meal leaves 510 worked minutes, or 8.50 hours. A gap between punches already excludes that time. Keep paid rest periods in the worked total.
Overnight shifts and workday attribution
Each punch segment belongs entirely to the day it starts. Daily totals, daily overtime, California seventh-day overtime, and weekly overtime all use that attribution. California daily overtime counts all hours attributed to that 24-hour workday. An overnight shift on the last day of a workweek stays in that week, including on a biweekly card. Employers may define a different fixed 24-hour workday, such as one starting at 6:00 a.m., so results can differ.
Apply overtime to worked time
Under standard California rules, 10pm–6am supplies eight hours on the start day with zero daily overtime. A 6pm–8am shift supplies fourteen hours on that day, allocated as eight regular hours, four overtime hours and two double-time hours. Additional work attributed to the same day or week can change those allocations. Colorado also checks twelve consecutive worked hours across day and week boundaries. Keep workweeks separate when calculating weekly overtime.
Review the applicable thresholds against the employer’s workday and coverage. The official overtime references explain the standard rules. US Department of Labor overtime and California DLSE overtime FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
How are overnight shifts counted?
Each segment counts entirely on the day it starts. A 10pm–6am shift is eight hours on its start day. A 6pm–8am shift is fourteen hours there, giving eight regular, four overtime and two double-time hours under standard California rules. Employers may define a different fixed 24-hour workday, such as 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., so results can differ.