The Short Answer
DiffPay uses the shift times and differentials you log, combined with your job profile settings (base rate, OT threshold, OT multiplier), to compute your expected gross pay for each shift and pay period.
What Goes Into the Calculation
1. Clock in / clock out — your actual working hours
2. Break minutes — subtracted from total hours (unpaid break)
3. Base hourly rate — from your job profile
4. Shift differentials — night, weekend, holiday, charge, etc.
5. Overtime rules — weekly threshold (e.g. 40 hrs), daily threshold (CA), and multiplier (1.5x, 2x)
FLSA Blended Overtime
DiffPay follows the FLSA method for overtime: differentials are included in the "regular rate" calculation, which means your OT rate is higher than just 1.5x your base. See our detailed guide on FLSA blended OT.
Why Might My Paycheck Differ?
- Rounding — employers may round clock times to the nearest 6 or 15 minutes
- Pre-tax deductions — DiffPay calculates gross, not net
- Employer calculation errors — this is exactly what DiffPay helps you catch
- Different OT rules — make sure your job profile matches your employer's overtime policy
DiffPay is an estimation tool, not a payroll system. Always compare with your actual pay stub.