Workweek Boundary Splitter
Standard Formula
Splits a continuous shift that straddles the official midnight workweek cutoff.
Under FLSA, an employer must maintain a fixed workweek start day/hour; shifts straddling this cutoff must be divided between the two workweeks.
How Workweek Boundary Splitter Works?
The Workweek Boundary Splitter works by assigning shift hours before the workweek cutoff to Workweek 1 and hours after the cutoff to Workweek 2.
1Enter hours before the cutoff
Add hours worked before the workweek ends, 5 by default.
2Enter hours after the cutoff
Add hours worked after the new workweek starts, 3 by default.
3Enter the hourly rate
Type the base wage, $25.00 by default.
4Read the split
Workweek 1 gets 5 hours ($125.00) and Workweek 2 gets 3 hours ($75.00) of an 8-hour, $200.00 shift.
Workweek Boundary Splitter Formula
The Workweek Boundary Splitter formula is Week 1 Hours = Cutoff − Shift Start and Week 2 Hours = Shift End − Cutoff.
Workweek 1 hours
Week 1 = Cutoff − Start
Workweek 2 hours
Week 2 = End − Cutoff
Allocated pay
Week Pay = Week Hours × Rate
- Cutoff
- The fixed day and hour the employer’s workweek ends.
- Week 1, Week 2
- Hours credited to each workweek.
- Rate
- Hourly wage used for the allocation.
Worked example: Saturday 11:59 PM cutoff
A shift runs Saturday 8:00 PM to Sunday 4:00 AM. Hours before midnight = 4. Hours after = 4.
Workweek 1 already has 38 hours, so 4 more hours = 42: 2 overtime hours in Workweek 1. The 4 Sunday hours start Workweek 2.
Workweek Boundary Splitter Conversion Table
The Workweek Boundary Splitter conversion table shows how 7 boundary shifts change overtime when Workweek 1 already has 38 hours, at $25.00 per hour.
| Before / After Cutoff | Workweek 1 Total | Workweek 1 OT | Workweek 1 Pay Added | Workweek 2 Hours Carried |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 / 7 hrs | 39 hrs | 0 hrs | $25.00 | 7 hrs |
| 2 / 6 hrs | 40 hrs | 0 hrs | $50.00 | 6 hrs |
| 3 / 5 hrs | 41 hrs | 1 hrs | $87.50 | 5 hrs |
| 4 / 4 hrs | 42 hrs | 2 hrs | $125.00 | 4 hrs |
| 5 / 3 hrs | 43 hrs | 3 hrs | $162.50 | 3 hrs |
| 6 / 2 hrs | 44 hrs | 4 hrs | $200.00 | 2 hrs |
| 8 / 0 hrs | 46 hrs | 6 hrs | $275.00 | 0 hrs |
What is Workweek Boundary Splitter?
A Workweek Boundary Splitter is a tool that divides a shift crossing the workweek cutoff into 2 workweeks.
Under 29 CFR § 778.105, the workweek is a fixed, recurring 168-hour period. Each hour belongs to the workweek in which the hour was worked. A shift that starts Saturday night and ends Sunday morning splits when the employer’s workweek resets.
The split decides overtime. 5 hours placed in a week that already has 38 hours create 3 overtime hours; the same 5 hours in a new week create none.
What are the uses of Workweek Boundary Splitter?
There are 4 main uses of the Workweek Boundary Splitter.
Night shift overtime
Workers check overtime on shifts that cross the weekly reset.
Payroll configuration
Administrators test how timekeeping splits boundary shifts.
Workweek design
Employers choose a cutoff hour that lines up with shift changes.
Wage audits
Investigators confirm boundary hours were placed in the right week.