Tally My ShiftHow to compare timesheet hours with your payslip
Updated · Worked examples use whole minutes
To check a payslip, subtract its worked hours from your timesheet total for the same dates. A positive difference means the timesheet shows more time, and a negative one means the payslip shows more.
Calculate it step by step
- Add the shifts worked in the same date range as the statement and deduct each unpaid break once.
- Identify the statement total for those same worked hours. Check whether it uses hours and minutes or decimal hours.
- Compare durations. If they differ, write down the size and direction of the difference before checking daily records. Keep money, tax and pay rates out of the comparison.
Worked example
Suppose two weeks of shifts add up to 76 hours 30 minutes. A pay stub for those dates shows 75.75 worked hours, which is 75 hours 45 minutes. Your timecard is 45 minutes higher. The totals alone cannot identify which day explains the gap.
Check your own shifts in the time card calculator
Common causes of a timesheet and payslip difference
| Cause | What you would see | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Different date range | A whole shift or more missing, or extra | The first and last dates printed on the payslip |
| Unpaid break deducted twice | A gap equal to one break, often 30 or 60 minutes | Break rules in the timekeeping system for that day |
| Overnight shift at the period edge | One night shift counted in the next or previous period | Which date payroll assigns to a shift that crosses midnight |
| Hours on a separate line | Fewer ordinary hours, with overtime, leave or premium listed elsewhere | Every hours line on the statement, without double-counting premiums |
| Rounded punches | Small differences of a few minutes per shift | Your employer’s rounding rule, such as to the nearest quarter hour |
Find the size of the gap first, then match it to the cause whose pattern fits.
Where do timesheet and payslip differences come from?
In the US, the statement is often called a pay stub. The payment date can fall after the last shift on the statement. Match the first and last dates shown to the dates on your timesheet.
Look for worked hours. A statement may show separate lines for ordinary hours, overtime, paid leave or a premium. Read the labels before combining them. If an extra line pays a premium for hours already counted elsewhere, adding its hours again would double-count the same shift.
A difference tells you where to look. Check which dates were included, whether an unpaid break was deducted twice, and how an overnight shift was assigned at the end of the period. If a line is unclear, the day-by-day timesheet gives payroll a specific shift to check.
Quick answers
Why does my pay stub show fewer hours than I worked?
Common causes are a different date range, an unpaid break deducted twice, an overnight shift counted in another period, or hours listed on a separate overtime or leave line. Compare day by day to find the shift.
Is 75.75 hours the same as 75 hours 75 minutes?
No. 75.75 decimal hours is 75 hours 45 minutes, because 0.75 × 60 = 45.