How to subtract lunch
- Work out the shift length: clock-out minus clock-in.
- Subtract any unpaid meal break.
- Convert to decimal hours for payroll (minutes ÷ 60).
| Shift | Unpaid lunch | Hours worked | Decimal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 6:45 AM – 4:15 PM | 45 min | 8:45 | 8.75 |
| 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 60 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
| 10:00 PM – 6:30 AM | 30 min | 8:00 | 8.00 |
Paid or unpaid?
Under the US federal rule:
- Short breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes count as work time and must be paid.
- Meal periods, usually 30 minutes or more, can be unpaid if you are fully relieved from duty. Eating at your desk while answering the phone, or watching the job site, is work time.
Federal law does not require employers to give breaks at all. Many states do.
Source: US DOL Fact Sheet #22: Hours Worked
Meal break rules in California and Ontario
- California: a 30-minute meal period is generally required before the end of the fifth hour of work for shifts over five hours, with a second one for longer shifts. Missed meal breaks can trigger an extra hour of pay.
- Ontario: an eating period of at least 30 minutes is required so that you do not work more than five hours in a row without one. It can be unpaid.
Sources: Ontario: ESA guide, hours of work and eating periods
Watch out for automatic deductions
Many payroll systems auto-deduct 30 minutes for lunch every day. If a worker skipped or cut short their lunch, that time must be added back and paid. In the calculator, change that day’s break to 0.
Split shifts
If you clock out for a long break in the middle of the day (a split shift), or move between two job sites, use + Split in the calculator to enter a second clock-in and clock-out. Both are added together.
Questions
Is a 30-minute lunch break paid?
Usually not, if you are completely relieved from duty for the full 30 minutes. If you are expected to keep working or stay on call, it counts as work time and must be paid.
Are 15-minute breaks paid?
Under the US federal rule, short rest breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes are counted as hours worked and must be paid.