How overtime is calculated for hourly employees
Overtime for hourly employees, explained: the 40-hour workweek rule, the regular rate, daily overtime states and common mistakes owners make.
Read the guide →Guides
Payroll and time clock guides for small business owners
Plain-English answers to the questions that come up between clock-in and payroll, written by the PunchOutPayroll team.
All payroll and time clock guides
Missed punches: how to fix them fairly
Employee forgot to clock out? Fix missed punches fairly: use the best evidence, involve the employee, keep the original record. Includes a policy to copy.
Read the guide →Payroll cutoff: a pre-payroll checklist for owners
What a payroll cutoff is, how to set one and a pre-payroll checklist for owners: open punches, overtime, breaks, time off, new hires and final pay.
Read the guide →Buddy punching: what it is and how to stop it
What buddy punching is, why it costs owners money and accurate records, the warning signs, and ways to stop it without treating your crew as suspects.
Read the guide →How to calculate labor cost for your business
How to calculate labor cost, fully loaded hourly cost and labor cost percentage, with plain formulas and a worked example for owner-run businesses.
Read the guide →Employee timekeeping software: what to look for
A checklist for choosing employee timekeeping software: required records, clock-in options, overtime and breaks, corrections, approvals and payroll export.
Read the guide →Construction time cards: how to keep them right
How to keep construction time cards: what to record, job and travel time, overtime, certified payroll on federal jobs and closing cards before payroll.
Read the guide →Employee break laws by state: meal and rest breaks
Federal break rules plus which states require meal periods or paid rest breaks for adults, and what each rule says, with official sources.
Read the guide →Overtime laws by state: daily and weekly rules for employers
Federal overtime starts after 40 hours a week, but some states add daily overtime and double time. A plain-English guide for owners, with official sources.
Read the guide →California break laws: meal and rest periods for employers
California meal and rest break rules in plain English: meal timing, waivers, paid rest periods, premium pay, records and a sample 10-hour shift.
Read the guide →General information, not legal advice. Labor rules change and vary by state and city. Check your state labor department or talk with an employment attorney about your situation.
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