How to Track Work Hours and Estimate Your Pay
A practical guide to logging shifts, unpaid breaks, hourly pay and checking a payslip.
1. Record each shift consistently
Write down the date, start time, finish time and every unpaid break. Record overnight shifts against the correct dates so that the hours are not accidentally counted twice.
2. Calculate paid hours
Subtract unpaid break minutes from the elapsed time. Example: a shift from 09:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute unpaid break is 8 paid hours.
3. Estimate gross pay
Multiply paid hours by the applicable hourly rate. For five 8-hour shifts at €12 per hour, the basic gross estimate is 40 × €12 = €480, before taxes or supplements.
4. Handle different rates separately
Weekend, night, overtime and holiday rules vary by employer and jurisdiction. Keep these hours separate and apply only the rules that actually apply to your contract.
5. Compare with your payslip
At the end of the pay period, compare recorded hours, breaks, rate categories and gross pay with the payslip. Keep supporting records if you need to ask about a discrepancy.
PayClock helps you record shifts, breaks and estimated earnings. It is a personal tracking tool, not an official payroll calculation.
Keep your records in one place
Explore Payclock for Android and see whether its features fit your needs.
Explore the app →