How to calculate hours worked with a lunch break
- Morning: lunch out minus clock in.
- Afternoon: clock out minus lunch in.
- Add them up. That's the same as the whole day minus the lunch break.
Only know how long lunch was, not when? The time card calculator takes a lunch length (30 minutes, 1 hour) instead of two punches.
Questions
How do I calculate hours worked with a lunch break?
Add the time before lunch (lunch out − clock in) to the time after lunch (clock out − lunch in). In at 8:00, lunch 12:00 to 12:30, out at 4:30 is 4:00 + 4:00 = 8 hours.
Is a lunch break paid?
Under federal rules, short breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes are usually paid work time. A real meal break, usually 30 minutes or more, where you are fully off duty, doesn't have to be paid. Some states, like California, also require meal breaks. Check your state or your employer for your job.
What if I didn't take a lunch break?
Leave the two lunch boxes blank. The day counts from clock in to clock out.
Does it work for night shifts?
Yes. Each punch is read as the first matching time after the one before, so 10 PM in, 2 AM lunch, 2:30 AM back and 6:30 AM out is 8 hours worked.
How is overtime figured?
With overtime on, hours over 40 in the week are paid at 1.5 times your rate, the federal rule for most hourly jobs. Turn it off if it doesn't apply to you.