How to use it
- Enter start, end and break times for days 1–14 of your pay period.
- Add your hourly rate.
- Check the week 1 and week 2 lines to see where overtime came from.
The formula
Week 1 overtime = max(0, week 1 hours − 40)
Week 2 overtime = max(0, week 2 hours − 40)
Pay = (regular hours × rate) + (overtime hours × rate × 1.5)
Example: Week 1: 36 hours. Week 2: 46 hours. Total 82 hours, but overtime is only the 6 hours over 40 in week 2, not 2 hours over 80.
Good to know
- Some hospitals use the "8 and 80" system (29 U.S.C. 207(j)): overtime after 8 hours a day or 80 hours in 14 days. That's only for hospitals and residential care facilities, and only with the employee's agreement.
- Biweekly pay means 26 paychecks a year; semimonthly means 24.
Questions
How many hours is a biweekly pay period?
A full-time biweekly period is 80 hours: 40 hours in each of two weeks.
Is overtime over 80 hours in two weeks?
Not for most employers. Overtime is due for hours over 40 in each workweek. Only hospitals and residential care facilities may use the 8-and-80 system.
What's the difference between biweekly and semimonthly?
Biweekly is every two weeks (26 paychecks a year, always 80 hours for full-time). Semimonthly is twice a month (24 paychecks), so the hours in each period vary.