Checking your pay stub starts with knowing exactly how many hours you worked. Here is how to count them, convert minutes to decimal hours, and apply overtime rules in Canada. Our hours worked calculator does it all automatically.
Step 1: count each shift
Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract unpaid breaks. 8:30 to 17:00 is 8 h 30 min; minus a 30-minute lunch gives 8 hours.
For night shifts, add 24 hours to the end time if it is past midnight: 22:00 to 06:00 is 8 hours.
Step 2: convert minutes to decimals
Payroll uses decimal hours. Divide minutes by 60: 15 min = 0.25 h, 20 min = 0.33 h, 30 min = 0.5 h, 45 min = 0.75 h. So 7 h 45 min = 7.75 h.
Step 3: add up the week and apply overtime
Overtime is usually paid at 1.5 times your regular rate once you pass a threshold. Thresholds depend on where you work:
| Jurisdiction | Overtime after |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 44 hours a week |
| Quebec | 40 hours a week |
| British Columbia | 8 hours a day or 40 a week (2x after 12 hours a day) |
| Alberta | 8 hours a day or 44 a week |
| Federally regulated employers | 8 hours a day or 40 a week |
Some industries, managers and averaging agreements have different rules, so check your provincial employment standards.
Example
In Ontario you work 48 hours at $22/h. Regular pay: 44 x $22 = $968. Overtime: 4 x $33 = $132. Gross pay: $1,100.
Keep your own record
Write down start, end and break times every day. If your pay looks wrong, your own record is the best evidence when talking to your employer or filing a complaint.