Hours that match payroll
Disputes start when rounded clock-ins disagree with policy. Summing exact in/out times with explicit breaks produces a defensible total before you multiply by rate.
Rounding policies
Some employers round to the nearest 15 minutes within FLSA guardrails. Small rounding bias can accumulate—document the rule on the timesheet itself.
Billable versus paid
Consultants bill clients for on-task time; employers pay for scheduled presence. The same day may yield different totals depending which breaks are billable to the project.
Night and split shifts
Cross-midnight shifts need date boundaries. Split shifts with long unpaid gaps may trigger reporting requirements in hospitality and healthcare regulations.