ShiftPaybookWork hours tracker: how to count the hours you really worked
Published
Quick answer
A work hours tracker totals the time you spend working each day, week and pay period. Record real start and end times, subtract unpaid breaks, and total hours by pay period, not by calendar month. Counting hours the same way every time lets you compare them with your payslip and spot gaps early.
Total hours are the base of every hourly paycheck. A small habit of counting them the same way each time prevents most arguments about time.
What counts as hours worked?
Rules differ by country, but in general paid working time starts when you begin your duties and ends when you finish them. Whether short breaks, travel time or waiting time count depends on your contract and local law. Check your local rules and your employer's policy, and record the facts so you can look them up.
How do I add up my hours each day?
- Write down the start and end time of each shift.
- Subtract unpaid breaks.
- Convert minutes to decimals when you multiply by a rate: 7 hours 30 minutes is 7.5 hours.
- Add the days together for the week total.
| Minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.17 |
| 15 | 0.25 |
| 20 | 0.33 |
| 30 | 0.50 |
| 45 | 0.75 |
How do I track hours across a pay period?
A pay period is the span your employer pays for: weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly. Total the hours inside that span, not the calendar month, so your figures match your paycheck.
ShiftPaybook supports weekly, every two weeks, twice a month, monthly or your own cycle, and shows your earnings for the current period and the next payday.
How many hours are too many?
Many countries limit weekly working time or require rest breaks. For example, GOV.UK explains a 48-hour average weekly limit with some exceptions, and the EU working time directive sets a similar average. Limits, exceptions and opt-outs vary, so check your local rules.
How can I keep my hours accurate?
- Use a timer or log the shift as soon as it ends.
- Record each break when it happens, not at the end of the week.
- Review your weekly total on the same day every week.
- Keep one record per job so hours never mix.
Frequently asked questions
Should I round my hours?
Record real times and round only when you calculate, using the same method every time. Employers may have their own rounding policy, so compare your total with your payslip.
What is a decimal hour?
It writes minutes as a fraction of an hour so you can multiply by a rate. Thirty minutes is 0.5 hours and 7 hours 30 minutes is 7.5 hours.
How do I track hours for two jobs?
Keep each job separate, with its own rate. ShiftPaybook keeps a rate, colour and currency per job, so hours and earnings never mix.
Can I track my hours without creating an account?
Yes. ShiftPaybook has no account and stores your records on your iPhone.
Sources
Public bodies and Apple documentation that this guide draws on:
- U.S. Department of Labor: Hours worked under the FLSA (Fact Sheet 22)
- GOV.UK: Maximum weekly working hours
- GOV.UK: Rest breaks at work
- EUR-Lex: Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC
General information only, not legal, tax or payroll advice. Rules differ by country, region, contract and employer, so check your local rules before relying on a figure.