Common Shift Lengths
Compare common elapsed shift lengths with unpaid-break examples to see how break time changes worked duration.
| Elapsed shift | Unpaid break | Worked time |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hr | 0 min | 4 hr 0 min |
| 4 hr | 30 min | 3 hr 30 min |
| 6 hr | 0 min | 6 hr 0 min |
| 6 hr | 30 min | 5 hr 30 min |
| 8 hr | 0 min | 8 hr 0 min |
| 8 hr | 30 min | 7 hr 30 min |
| 10 hr | 0 min | 10 hr 0 min |
| 10 hr | 30 min | 9 hr 30 min |
| 12 hr | 0 min | 12 hr 0 min |
| 12 hr | 30 min | 11 hr 30 min |
How to read this chart
This chart compares shift length with break assumptions; it does not assume particular clock-in times.
Elapsed shift versus worked time
An elapsed shift describes the full span from start to finish. Worked time can be shorter when unpaid breaks are removed.
worked time = elapsed shift − unpaid break
How to compare rows
Use the first column as the full shift length, then compare the break assumption with the resulting worked duration. For the same elapsed shift, a longer unpaid break always reduces worked time by the same number of minutes.
Why the chart does not show clock times
The chart focuses on duration only. A nine-hour elapsed shift can occur at many different clock times, so the examples avoid implying a particular schedule.