Keep an unfinished shift as a draft
A partial record can be worth keeping even when its duration is not known.
The sample record
| Record | State | Counted contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00–13:00 | Complete | 04:00 |
| Starts at 14:00; no end | Draft | Not included |
What the subtotal means
The known completed amount is 04:00. That is not the final day total, because a second shift remains unfinished. The draft should preserve 14:00 and its date and note, but it should not use the current clock, a typical shift length or a zero-minute assumption to invent an end.
Finish the record deliberately
When the end time is available, reopen the saved draft, enter the actual date and time, and review any breaks. The complete duration can then join the total. A final export should make unresolved records clear and require their review; keeping a JSON backup is still useful while the record is unfinished.
Use this example
Open related toolFrequently asked questions
Is the visible 04:00 a complete card total?
No. It is the known subtotal from the completed 09:00–13:00 shift. The unfinished 14:00 draft has no calculated duration, and final export stays blocked.
Will saving the draft invent an end time?
No. The missing value stays missing. JSON preserves the draft so you can finish it later, or you can explicitly remove it.
Sources and method
- NIST SP 330, Section 4, Table 8Time-unit definitions only; not a payroll authority or product endorsement.
- Original worked calculationSynthetic example data, explicit input rules and direct integer-minute arithmetic.
Keep going
Time card calculator
Build a dated time card with multiple shifts, paid and unpaid breaks, local projects, CSV import and PDF or JSON exports.
Create your first time card
Create a time card from an empty period, add a dated shift and break, review totals, and choose a save or export.
Worked time-card examples
Browse twelve checked examples of split shifts, overnight breaks, date boundaries, decimal durations and file review.