This guide provides a technical breakdown of how Daylight Saving Time (DST) changes impact timesheet data and payroll calculations for employees working overnight shifts.
In New Zealand, clocks advance by one hour at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday in September and revert by one hour at 3:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in April. These shifts create either a 23-hour or a 25-hour day, which can cause discrepancies between standard shift durations and the actual hours worked.
When clocks "spring forward," the hour from 2:00 a.m. to 2:59 a.m. ceases to exist for that day, resulting in a shorter workday for overnight staff.
Standard Shift: An employee is scheduled to work from 10:00 p.m. Saturday to 6:00 a.m. Sunday, which is a standard 8-hour shift.
DST Impact: At 2:00 a.m., the time instantly becomes 3:00 a.m.
Actual Hours Worked: The employee works from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. (4 hours) and then from 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. (3 hours). The total physical time worked is 7 hours.
An employee's pay for this shift is determined by their employment agreement or company policy. If your policy is to pay for the standard 8-hour shift to avoid disadvantage, a manual adjustment in Tempus is required.
To pay the full 8 hours, you must add the "lost" hour to the timesheet as a separate 1.00-hour line item for the shift on the last Sunday of September. This corrects the discrepancy between the 7 hours worked and the 8 hours paid.
When clocks "fall back," the hour from 2:00 a.m. to 2:59 a.m. is repeated, resulting in a longer workday for overnight staff.
Standard Shift: An employee is scheduled to work from 10:00 p.m. Saturday to 6:00 a.m. Sunday, a standard 8-hour shift.
DST Impact: At 3:00 a.m., the time instantly reverts to 2:00 a.m.
Actual Hours Worked: The employee works from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. (5 hours), and then works the repeated hour from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. (4 hours). The total physical time worked is 9 hours.
Employers are legally required to pay for all hours worked. Standard clock-in/out entries may only calculate 8 hours for this shift, creating a payroll error.
To ensure compliance, you must manually add the additional hour to the timesheet. This should be entered as a separate 1.00-hour time entry to reflect the repeated hour worked.