Overtime rules, timecard arithmetic and state differences for small US employers. Each article names its sources, shows its arithmetic and is computed with our own calculators.
For a nurse on 12-hour shifts, the 8 and 80 system almost always pays more than two 40-hour workweeks. On 8-hour shifts it can pay less. Here is the arithmetic, at the same hourly rate, for five hospital schedules.
Abdul Baseer··9 min read
A calculator gives you a number. These articles explain when that number is the right one, by setting two methods against each other on the same hours and the same pay rate. They are written for employees who want to check a pay stub and for the people who run payroll for a small employer.
State law can change a federal result, and the articles say so where it does. They explain rules and show arithmetic. They do not decide whether a particular employer has paid you correctly.
Articles are general information, not legal, tax or payroll advice, and the figures are estimates. See the disclaimer. Last updated .
