OraHow to calculate payable hours
First find the actual elapsed time from shift start to finish. Add the length of your unpaid breaks and subtract that from elapsed time. Paid breaks remain in payable time. Work excluding breaks is elapsed time minus all breaks.
Worked example
A 09:00–17:00 shift is eight hours. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch and a 15-minute paid break, total breaks are 45 minutes, work excluding breaks is 7 hours 15 minutes, and payable time is 7 hours 30 minutes. This example assumes no clock change.
Not every break reduces payable time. Read the paid versus unpaid breaks guide to compare the two treatments, then use the dated work-hours calculator if you also need to check elapsed time across midnight.
Overnight shifts and clock changes
Enter the actual date as well as the time for both ends of a shift and each break. For example, a break from 23:45 to 00:15 ends on the next date. The calculator uses the selected time zone and actual elapsed minutes across a clock change. If an entered local time occurs twice or does not exist, choose an unambiguous time.
Paid and unpaid breaks
Whether a particular break is paid depends on the applicable agreement and rules. Select the status yourself and check your employer’s records; this tool does not decide whether a break must be paid.
Common questions
Is lunch unpaid?
It depends on the relevant agreement and rules. Enter the status that applies to your situation.
Do paid breaks count as hours?
For this calculation, a break you mark as paid stays in payable time. Payroll treatment can differ; check the applicable policy.
What if my break crosses midnight?
Choose the correct date for each endpoint. A 23:45–00:15 break on consecutive dates lasts 30 minutes when no clock change occurs.
This tool is an informational estimate, not legal or payroll advice. Actual records and pay can differ. About these estimates.
Want to keep a record of your shifts? Explore shift tracking in Ora.
