The long-shift meal premium
Many contracts pay extra on long shifts: half an hour at double time plus a $10 meal allowance once you pass 11 hours, and the same again once you pass 15.
How it works
- Paycheq adds up the paid time on each shift.
- When a shift passes a step’s hours, Paycheq adds that step’s extra paid time at its multiplier of your regular rate, plus its allowance.
- The shift has to go over the hours. Exactly 11 hours earns nothing extra.
Example
An 11.5-hour shift at $19.25 adds half an hour at $38.50 plus $10, for $29.25. A 15.5-hour shift adds it twice.
Back-to-back shifts
Two shifts that meet exactly, with the second starting the same minute the first ends, count as one shift for the meal premium. This covers a shift split between two pay rates. Any gap between them keeps them separate.
Changing it
- Go to Jobs, tap your job, then Contract rules, then Meal premium.
- For each meal, set After (hours in a shift), Extra paid time, Paid at (the multiplier) and Allowance.
- Tap Add another meal to add a step, or Remove this step to take one away.
- Tap Save, go back, and tap Save on the job.

Good to know
- On the day, the extra half hour shows under Double time, and the $10 as Meal allowance.
- New contracts start with this rule. If your contract doesn’t have one, swipe left on it to delete it, then tap Save on the job.
Estimates only. Not legal advice. Check your collective agreement.
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