Articles
Straight answers to the time-tracking, payroll, and HR questions small businesses actually search for. 30 articles and growing.
Work hours
24 Hour Clock Conversion: Military Time Made Simple
How the 24 hour clock works, the simple rules for converting military time in both directions, a full 0000-2300 reference, and why payroll systems use it.
How Many Hours Is Part Time? The Real Answer for 2026
There is no federal definition of part time. Here's the common 20-29 hour range, the ACA's 30-hour rule, and how benefits and overtime actually apply.
Work Hours Per Year: The 2,080 Math and What People Actually Work
How many work hours are in a year? Start with 2,080, subtract PTO and holidays for a realistic figure near 1,900, and use the monthly breakdown for pay math.
Wage & hour law
California Lunch Break Law: The 5th-Hour Rule, Premium Pay, and How to Stay Compliant
California's lunch break law requires a 30-minute meal before the end of the 5th hour. Learn rest break rules, premium pay penalties, and no-rounding rules.
Florida Labor Laws for Minors: Work Hours, Curfews, and What Employers Must Do
Florida labor laws for minors set hour limits and curfews by age. See the rules for 14-17 year olds, the federal floor, and how employers stay compliant.
Florida Labor Laws: A 2026 Overview for Small Business Employers
A plain-English guide to Florida labor laws for employers: minimum wage increases, break rules, overtime, child labor, final paychecks, and right-to-work.
Texas Lunch Break Laws: What Employers Actually Have to Provide in 2026
Texas has no state lunch break law for adult workers. Learn which federal rules still apply, what most Texas employers do anyway, and how to set a policy.
Washington State Break Laws: Meal and Rest Break Rules Employers Must Follow
Washington requires a 30-minute meal period on shifts over 5 hours plus paid 10-minute rest breaks. See the timing rules and how employers stay compliant.
Overtime
California Overtime Law Explained: Daily OT, Double Time, and the 7th Day
California overtime law explained: daily overtime after 8 hours, double time after 12, seventh-day rules, and worked examples showing exactly what you're owed.
FLSA Overtime Rules: The Complete Guide for Employers and Employees
Plain-English guide to FLSA overtime rules: who is covered, how the workweek and regular rate work, common exemptions, and what violations cost employers.
How Much Is Overtime Pay? Real Numbers at $15, $20, and $25 an Hour
See exactly how much overtime pay you earn at $15, $20, and $25 per hour for 45, 50, and 60-hour weeks, plus double-time and how bonuses change the math.
When Does No Tax on Overtime Start? The 2025 Rule, Explained
No Tax on Overtime took effect for tax year 2025 under the July 2025 federal law. How the overtime deduction works, who qualifies, caps, and phase-outs.
Payroll
Daylight Saving Time Payroll: Paying Overnight Shifts Right
How daylight saving time affects payroll for overnight crews: the 23-hour spring day, the 25-hour fall day, the overtime it can trigger, and time clock fixes.
Payroll Advance: How to Give (or Get) One Without Legal Headaches
What a payroll advance is, how to structure one with a written agreement and repayment schedule, the legal limits on deductions, and smarter alternatives.
Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP): What It Is and the US Equivalents
The Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) is a Canadian designation from the National Payroll Institute. See what it covers and the US equivalents: FPC and CPP.
Clocking in & out
PTO & leave
How Long Is Maternity Leave in the US? The Honest Answer
How long maternity leave really lasts in the US: FMLA's 12 unpaid weeks, state paid leave programs, short-term disability, and how to plan your time off.
PTO Request Form: What to Include, Example Wording, and Approval Flow
Everything a PTO request form should capture, example wording you can copy, a clean approval flow, and policy tips like notice periods and blackout dates.
Sabbatical Leave: What It Is and How Small Businesses Can Offer One
What sabbatical leave is, who typically qualifies, paid vs unpaid options, and how small businesses can design a sabbatical policy that won't break operations.
Unlimited PTO: How It Works, Why Companies Love It, and Where It Fails
How unlimited PTO actually works, why companies offer it, why employees often take less time off, and the guardrails that make an unlimited policy succeed.
What Is Accrued PTO? How It's Earned, Capped, and Paid Out
Accrued PTO is paid time off you've earned but not used. Learn how accrual methods work, what caps and carryover mean, and when unused PTO must be paid out.
Software & tools
HR Software for Small Business: How to Choose Without Overbuying
How to choose HR software for a small business: the modules that matter, cloud vs on-premise, per-seat pricing traps, and a build-up path that starts free.
Time and Attendance Systems: What They Do and How to Choose One
What time and attendance systems actually do, cloud vs on-premise, a feature checklist for small businesses, typical pricing models, and the free option.
HR & people
Human Capital Management (HCM): What It Means and What Small Businesses Actually Need
Human capital management (HCM) covers every system for managing your workforce. Learn HCM vs HR vs HRIS vs HRMS, the core modules, and what you really need.
What Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)? A Small Business Guide
An employee assistance program (EAP) gives workers confidential counseling and referrals. Learn what EAPs cover, how they work, costs, and if you need one.
What Is Onboarding? The Employee Onboarding Process Explained for Small Businesses
Onboarding is the process of integrating a new hire into your business. Learn why it drives retention, the first-90-days structure, and a paperwork checklist.
Scheduling
The 2-2-3 Work Schedule (Panama Schedule), Explained
How the 2-2-3 (Panama) work schedule works: 12-hour shifts, the 2 on, 2 off, 3 on rotation, the 42-hour average week, and what it means for overtime pay.
Weekly Work Schedule Template: How to Build One That Actually Works
Build a weekly work schedule template in minutes: the best grid layout, which columns to include, spreadsheet steps, and when to switch to software.