How to use it
- Enter all four punches for each day. Leave lunch blank on days you didn't take one.
- Overnight shifts work too; each pair of punches can cross midnight.
- Add your rate to see pay. Overtime starts after 40 hours.
The formula
Day = (lunch out − in) + (out − lunch in)
Lunch length = lunch in − lunch out (not paid)
Example: In 7:58, lunch 12:02–12:31, out 4:30 → 4:04 + 3:59 = 8:03, or 8.05 hours.
Good to know
- Lunch shorter than 20 minutes usually has to be paid under federal rules; only bona fide meal periods (typically 30+ minutes, free of duty) can be unpaid.
- In California a meal period that starts after the 5th hour of work earns a premium of one hour's pay.
- If the result flags lunch punches out of order, check AM/PM on the lunch times.
Questions
How do I calculate hours with a lunch break?
Calculate the morning (lunch out − in) and the afternoon (out − lunch in) and add them. 8:00 to 12:00 is 4 hours, 12:30 to 4:30 is 4 hours, total 8 hours.
Is lunch counted as hours worked?
Not if it's a real meal period: usually 30 minutes or more and you're fully relieved of duty. If you have to stay at your desk, answer phones or are interrupted, the time is generally paid.
What if I forgot to punch out for lunch?
Tell your supervisor so the time card can be corrected. Employers can't simply deduct a lunch you didn't take.