“Regular Time”

What is Regular Time?

Regular time refers to the standard number of hours worked by an employee within a regular workweek, typically defined by an employer. These hours are usually compensated at the employee’s regular hourly rate, without any additional premium for overtime.

What Are the Benefits of Regular Time?

• The foundation to Compensation:

  Regular time is the foundation for determining the standard pay rates. It guarantees that employees receive fair compensation for hours they work during their regular schedule of work.

• Conformity in accordance with Labor Laws:

  Many areas have regulations that define the number of hours required for a normal week of work. Regularly scheduled time helps employers to ensure that they are in compliance with these laws by observing the employees’ regular work hours.

• Budgeting and Planning:

  Employers rely on the regular hours to budget for the cost of labour and to determine the appropriate levels of staffing. Understanding the standard working hours allows companies to assign resources efficiently and effectively manage workloads.

• Equality and Fairness:

  Regular time can help ensure fairness and equity at work by setting uniform standards for pay and working hours. This ensures that employees are paid fairly for their regular work obligations.

• Overtime Management:

  Regular time is a basis for determining what overtime compensation is available. By clearly defining the hours of regular work employers can efficiently control overtime hours and ensure that they are in compliance with the overtime rules.

• Employee Accountability:

  Tracking regular time allows employees to stick to their work schedules and perform their duties in the normal work week. It encourages accountability and helps to maintain the productivity of the business.

How Do You Calculate Regular Hours?

A worker’s regular hours include the hours that are worked which don’t exceed 40 hours within a single week.

To figure out the amount of hours a regular employee worked, you need to first determine the total hours they worked. Follow these steps to determine the hours worked:

• The employee should know when they were able to start and end working. This is usually accomplished using time-tracking tools or cards.
• Calculate the number of hours an employee was working. Subtract the beginning time from the time at which they finished. For example, if the employee began work at 8:00 am and finished at 6:30 pm, they were working for 10 hours and 30 minutes.
• Convert minutes to fractions. If the employee didn’t complete an even amount of hours, you could convert the additional minutes to decimals by dividing the minutes by 60. For the example above, we’d divide 30 by 60 to arrive at .5. Add this number to the total hours of work, and you’ll get 10.5 hours.
• Subtract time that is not paid. For instance, if the employee took a half-hour lunch break without pay, this would be subtracted from the final total. Thus, using the example above, the total hours of the employee are 10 hours.
• Repeat this procedure for each day that the employee worked to determine the total hours of the week. Then, evaluate those hours against the standard workweek for the employee, which is typically 40 hours per week.
• For instance, if an employee worked for 45 hours in a week, this means they have worked 40 hours of regular time and 5 overtime hours.

FAQs

How can employers track Regular Time?

Employers can track Regular Time using Superworks time-tracking systems, timesheets, or punch cards to record employee hours accurately

What happens if an employee exceeds Regular Time?

If an employee exceeds Regular Time, any additional hours worked may be considered overtime and subject to overtime pay rates.

Are breaks included in Regular Time calculations?

Yes, breaks are typically included in Regular Time calculations unless they are unpaid and considered off-the-clock time.

How should employers handle discrepancies in Regular Time tracking?

Employers should address any discrepancies in Regular Time tracking promptly and transparently, ensuring accurate payment and compliance with labour laws.

Can Regular Time vary by industry or employment agreement?

Yes, Regular Time may vary based on industry standards, collective bargaining agreements, or individual employment contracts.

Also See: Overtime Calculation | Superworks glossary