Hours, minutes and seconds to decimal hours
Decimal hours = hours + minutes ÷ 60 + seconds ÷ 3600. For example 8:30:45 is 8 + 30/60 + 45/3600 = 8.5125 hours. Payroll usually rounds this to two decimals (8.51).
Do seconds matter for pay?
Usually not on their own, but they add up. Many time clocks record seconds and then round each punch to the nearest 5, 6 or 15 minutes. Under US federal rules that rounding is allowed only if it is neutral: it must not, over time, always round in the employer’s favor. Keeping the exact punches is the easiest way to check.
- Nearest 6 minutes (a tenth of an hour): 8:02:59 rounds to 8:00, 8:03:00 to 8:06.
- Nearest 15 minutes (the 7-minute rule): 1 to 7 minutes round down, 8 to 14 round up.
Source: US DOL Fact Sheet #22: Hours Worked
Questions
How do I convert hh:mm:ss to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and the seconds by 3600, then add them to the hours. 7:45:30 = 7 + 0.75 + 0.0083 = 7.7583 hours.
Can my employer round my time clock punches?
In the US, rounding to the nearest 5, 6 or 15 minutes is allowed only if it averages out over time and does not always favor the employer. Some states are stricter.