How to Calculate the Hours Worked in a Year

Few workers punch in with time cards anymore. On the plus side, we work more flexible hours in the modern workforce. However, it's increasingly incumbent upon us to keep track of our own work hours.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Calculator
• Work journal

Instructions

1. Keep a journal of the time you spend working. When you sit down to work, record the time. When you stop work, record that time, too.

2. Calculate daily work hours and minutes. If it's easier for you, just record the total minutes worked for the day. For example, say one day you work from 9:15am - 12:33pm, then from 1:12pm - 6:08pm. To determine the total time worked, add the 3 hours and 18 minutes (198 minutes) from the first session to the 4 hours and 56 minutes (296 minutes) from the second to write the daily total of 8 hours and 14 minutes (494 minutes divided by 60 equals 8 with 14 remaining). This can be recorded as "8:14."

3. Calculate monthly totals. At the end of each month, add the work time totals for every day in that calendar month, and record this total in your journal. As an example, suppose you worked and recorded three working days in January: Jan 4, 7:15 (i.e. 7 hours and 15 minutes); Jan 19, 9:34; Jan 23, 3:12. Add the hours first, then the minutes. Convert 60 minutes or more to hours. In our example, the hours are 19. Minutes total 61, or one hour plus one minute, bringing the total to 20:01 for the month.

4. Calculate the total time worked for the year. Add each of the monthly totals to derive your total work hours.

5. Settle any disputes. By keeping careful, daily records in a journal, you have reliable documentation of your work hours in case questions arise. Especially in cases where you've been hired on an hourly contract basis, meticulous record-keeping assures clients that they are getting their money's worth. The IRS will appreciate such records if you're audited, too.

Tips & Warnings

• Double-check your math before every entry into the journal.

• If your record is on paper, scan the pages to have an electronic backup in case it's lost.

References

• Citizens Information: Employment Working Time (Records)
• University of California: Staff Payroll Time and Leave Recording