How this calculator works
Each shift is measured from its real start instant to its real end instant using the offsets you supply, so overnight work and seasonal clock changes are handled. The unpaid break is subtracted in whole minutes, then all shifts are added together before any rounding. The hourly rate multiplies the exact total paid time, so per-shift rounding cannot drift away from the true amount.
Formula
For each shift, paid seconds = (end - start) - 60 x unpaid_break_minutes, where start and end are seconds on the uniform time scale. paid_hours = total paid seconds / 3600, and straight_time_pay = hourly_rate x paid_hours.
Worked example
An 8-hour shift with a 30-minute unpaid break and a 7 hour 45 minute shift with a 45-minute break total 14.5 paid hours. At $24.50 an hour the straight-time pay is $355.25.
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Frequently asked questions
Does this calculate overtime?
No. Provincial, federal and state overtime rules differ, so this page reports straight-time arithmetic only. Apply your local overtime rule separately to the paid hours.
Why does a break over the shift length return an error?
A break longer than the time worked would produce negative paid time, which cannot be right. The calculator stops instead of hiding the mistake in the total.
Why are shifts limited to three?
The page keeps the input form to one screen. For longer pay periods, note the running total for each group of three shifts and add the totals.