The reliable exact-minute method
Convert the start and end of each shift to minutes after midnight. For 9:15 AM, calculate 9 × 60 + 15 = 555 minutes. For 5:45 PM, use 17 × 60 + 45 = 1,065 minutes. Subtract 555 from 1,065 to get 510 elapsed minutes.
Subtract only unpaid break time from elapsed time. A 30-minute unpaid lunch produces 480 net minutes, which is 8 hours. Paid breaks remain part of paid work time and should not reduce the total.
- Record each completed clock-in and clock-out pair.
- Calculate the elapsed minutes for each separate shift.
- Subtract only unpaid break minutes, then add the net shift totals.
Multiple shifts in one day
Calculate each shift independently before adding them. A 9 AM–12 PM shift is 180 minutes and a 1 PM–5 PM shift is 240 minutes. The total is 420 minutes, or 7 hours.
Keeping shifts separate makes errors easier to spot and allows the calculator to warn when one time range overlaps another.
From minutes to decimal hours
Divide net minutes by 60 only after the exact-minute calculation is complete. For example, 450 minutes ÷ 60 = 7.50 decimal hours. Do not interpret 7 hours 30 minutes as 7.30 hours.
Records and limitations
The U.S. Department of Labor explains that covered employers must retain specified information about hours worked and wages. A personal calculator can help check arithmetic, but it does not replace an employer’s official time and payroll records.
Check the entered dates, breaks and overnight handling before using a result. WorkTime Hub does not decide whether a break or activity must be paid.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I round every shift?
WorkTime Hub uses exact minutes and does not automatically round punches.
What if I work two shifts?
Enter each shift separately so its duration and breaks can be validated.
Are paid breaks subtracted?
No. Only unpaid break minutes reduce net worked time.