Work & Pay Guides
Clear, practical explainers for hourly workers, freelancers, and managers — overtime pay, PTO accrual, hourly-to-salary conversion, and more. Each guide links to a free calculator so you can run the numbers yourself.
How to Calculate Overtime Pay (2026 Guide)
Learn how to calculate overtime pay under the FLSA, what 'time and a half' means, how daily-overtime states differ, and how to check your paycheck with worked examples.
Read guideCalifornia Overtime Rules Explained (Daily & Double-Time)
California requires daily overtime after 8 hours and double-time after 12 hours. Learn how the 7th-consecutive-day rule works, with worked pay examples.
Read guideHow Many Work Hours Are in a Year?
A full-time year is about 2,080 work hours. See how holidays and PTO reduce that number, plus part-time totals and how to calculate your own.
Read guidePTO Accrual Explained: Rates, Formulas & Examples
Understand how PTO accrual works, how to convert an annual PTO policy into a per-paycheck rate, and how to project your future balance with examples.
Read guideHourly to Salary: How to Convert Your Wage
Convert any hourly wage to an annual salary with a simple formula, a common-rate reference table ($15–$30/hour), and notes on gross vs. net pay.
Read guideGross Pay vs. Net Pay: What's the Difference?
Gross pay is what you earn; net pay is what you take home. Learn the deductions in between — federal tax, FICA, state tax — with an example paycheck breakdown.
Read guideExempt vs. Non-Exempt: Am I Owed Overtime? (2026)
Salaried does not mean exempt. Learn the three FLSA tests, the main exemption categories, jobs that are never exempt, and what to do if you think you are misclassified.
Read guideWhat Counts as Hours Worked? Travel, On-Call & Breaks
Which hours must your employer pay for? A practical guide to waiting time, on-call, breaks, travel time, training, pre-shift work, time-clock rounding, and off-the-clock work.
Read guide