How to count part-time work hours

[MatrixCc]

I currently have a part-time job where the number of hours worked each week varies — sometimes 10 hours, sometimes 25 hours, and occasionally 35 hours. My salary is paid every two weeks, and the pay stub shows the total number of hours worked over the two-week period.

When applying for Express Entry, how should I answer the question: "Hours per week"?

Can I calculate the average weekly hours? If so, I’m concerned because the IRCC website states that they don’t count hours worked above 30 hours per week. Also, I can’t remember the exact number of hours I worked each week, only the total hours for each two-week period based on my pay stub. This is quite frustrating.

I would appreciate any advice or help. Thanks in advance!

 

[CanGoldDigger]

You paystubs should reflect that. And yes, no more than 30 hours per week and no more than 1,560 hours a year.

If you have 60 hours mentioned in your 2-week paystub, it's safe to count it as 30 a week.

 

[MatrixCc]

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm still a bit confused about how to answer the question "Hours per week." Should I provide the average weekly hours?

 

[DaveSSS]

Thank you so much for your reply. I'm still a bit confused about how to answer the question "Hours per week." Should I provide the average weekly hours?

I think the safest way is to get the summary of your paystub over the period and enter the average hours per week, which you can claim all your working hours with support.

 

[MatrixCc]

I think the safest way is to get the summary of your paystub over the period and enter the average hours per week, which you can claim all your working hours with support.

Thank you so much for your reply! My paystub shows the total hours worked over a two-week period, for example, 25 hours in the first week and 35 hours in the second week, for a total of 60 hours, which gives an average of 30 hours per week. However, according to immigration requirements, no matter how many hours are worked in a week, they must be counted as 30 hours. Does this mean: for the 1st week, 25 hours = 25 hours, and for the 2nd week, 35 hours = 30 hours, resulting in a total of 55 hours and an average of 27.5 hours per week? I’m not sure which method to use when answering the question about hours per week in the EE profile, and I’m feeling quite anxious about it. I look forward to your response. Thank you again!

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Thank you so much for your reply! My paystub shows the total hours worked over a two-week period, for example, 25 hours in the first week and 35 hours in the second week, for a total of 60 hours, which gives an average of 30 hours per week. However, according to immigration requirements, no matter how many hours are worked in a week, they must be counted as 30 hours. Does this mean: for the 1st week, 25 hours = 25 hours, and for the 2nd week, 35 hours = 30 hours, resulting in a total of 55 hours and an average of 27.5 hours per week? I’m not sure which method to use when answering the question about hours per week in the EE profile, and I’m feeling quite anxious about it. I look forward to your response. Thank you again!

How do you know which week you worked 25 and which one you worked 35 ?

 

[MatrixCc]

How do you know which week you worked 25 and which one you worked 35 ?

Since I work part-time and my hours vary each day, I started keeping track of my hours recently for immigration purposes. Unfortunately, I don't have a record of the previous ones.

 

[DaveSSS]

Thank you so much for your reply! My paystub shows the total hours worked over a two-week period, for example, 25 hours in the first week and 35 hours in the second week, for a total of 60 hours, which gives an average of 30 hours per week. However, according to immigration requirements, no matter how many hours are worked in a week, they must be counted as 30 hours. Does this mean: for the 1st week, 25 hours = 25 hours, and for the 2nd week, 35 hours = 30 hours, resulting in a total of 55 hours and an average of 27.5 hours per week? I’m not sure which method to use when answering the question about hours per week in the EE profile, and I’m feeling quite anxious about it. I look forward to your response. Thank you again!

So here we are not talking about specific period, they care about the average of hours in the whole working period. You can use the 35 hours in your calculation as long as your average hour not exceed 30/week, that should be fine.
My friend was working as a part-time bookkeeper and her average hour per week was 28 hours, nothing needs to worry about if you have sufficient support (paystub, bank statement to show the deposit, employer letter, tax return…)

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Since I work part-time and my hours vary each day, I started keeping track of my hours recently for immigration purposes. Unfortunately, I don't have a record of the previous ones.

That's tough. Basically you need to get 1,560 hours in a year. Just don't count more than 30 hours for any week or more than 60 hours for 2 weeks, this way you are going to be safe.

 

[MatrixCc]

That's tough. Basically you need to get 1,560 hours in a year. Just don't count more than 30 hours for any week or more than 60 hours for 2 weeks, this way you are going to be safe.

Since the paystub shows the total hours worked over a two-week period, and I don't know the exact number of hours worked each week, can I calculate my work hours like this? For example:

• 45 hours / 2 weeks = 45 hours / 2 weeks
• 65 hours / 2 weeks = 60 hours / 2 weeks
• 36 hours / 2 weeks = 36 hours / 2 weeks
• 70 hours / 2 weeks = 60 hours / 2 weeks

Then, calculate the average weekly hours:
(45 + 60 + 36 + 60) ÷ 8 = 201 ÷ 8 = 25.125 hours per week.

Is this calculation method accepted by IRCC?

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Since the paystub shows the total hours worked over a two-week period, and I don't know the exact number of hours worked each week, can I calculate my work hours like this? For example:

• 45 hours / 2 weeks = 45 hours / 2 weeks
• 65 hours / 2 weeks = 60 hours / 2 weeks
• 36 hours / 2 weeks = 36 hours / 2 weeks
• 70 hours / 2 weeks = 60 hours / 2 weeks

Then, calculate the average weekly hours:
(45 + 60 + 36 + 60) ÷ 8 = 201 ÷ 8 = 25.125 hours per week.

Is this calculation method accepted by IRCC?

Looks viable for me.

 

[yasw]

I currently have a part-time job where the number of hours worked each week varies — sometimes 10 hours, sometimes 25 hours, and occasionally 35 hours. My salary is paid every two weeks, and the pay stub shows the total number of hours worked over the two-week period.

When applying for Express Entry, how should I answer the question: "Hours per week"?

Can I calculate the average weekly hours? If so, I’m concerned because the IRCC website states that they don’t count hours worked above 30 hours per week. Also, I can’t remember the exact number of hours I worked each week, only the total hours for each two-week period based on my pay stub. This is quite frustrating.

I would appreciate any advice or help. Thanks in advance!

Hi
I'll share what I did because I was in a similar situation. So I worked full-time, then was let go, found another job and worked part-time but it was pretty inconsistent (most of the time) just like you.
Here is what I did, and to be honest, I did that right from the start because I knew I'll need to have a clear and proper tracking system so I could apply for PR.
First of all, what should you write for "hours per week", what I did was I looked at the average number of hours I worked biweekly, so maybe I worked for 5 hours this week and 25 hours the week after, so total of 30 hours (biweekly). If you see that there is a pattern or a number that keeps repeating itself, for example 25-30 hours/2 weeks, then go for the lower average (12.5 hours/week). I did that just to be on the safer side.

Secondly, I had a Google Sheet with the Paytub's date, number of hours (for the two weeks), pay, and job title. Every time I get paid, I downloaded my paystub into a dedicated file on my desktop, entered all the info into my google sheet and recalculated the total number of hours I worked so far and how many hours are left to reach the 1560 hours.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions. Best of luck.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Hi
I'll share what I did because I was in a similar situation. So I worked full-time, then was let go, found another job and worked part-time but it was pretty inconsistent (most of the time) just like you.
Here is what I did, and to be honest, I did that right from the start because I knew I'll need to have a clear and proper tracking system so I could apply for PR.
First of all, what should you write for "hours per week", what I did was I looked at the average number of hours I worked biweekly, so maybe I worked for 5 hours this week and 25 hours the week after, so total of 30 hours (biweekly). If you see that there is a pattern or a number that keeps repeating itself, for example 25-30 hours/2 weeks, then go for the lower average (12.5 hours/week). I did that just to be on the safer side.

Secondly, I had a Google Sheet with the Paytub's date, number of hours (for the two weeks), pay, and job title. Every time I get paid, I downloaded my paystub into a dedicated file on my desktop, entered all the info into my google sheet and recalculated the total number of hours I worked so far and how many hours are left to reach the 1560 hours.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions. Best of luck.

Awesome.

 

[MatrixCc]

Hi
I'll share what I did because I was in a similar situation. So I worked full-time, then was let go, found another job and worked part-time but it was pretty inconsistent (most of the time) just like you.
Here is what I did, and to be honest, I did that right from the start because I knew I'll need to have a clear and proper tracking system so I could apply for PR.
First of all, what should you write for "hours per week", what I did was I looked at the average number of hours I worked biweekly, so maybe I worked for 5 hours this week and 25 hours the week after, so total of 30 hours (biweekly). If you see that there is a pattern or a number that keeps repeating itself, for example 25-30 hours/2 weeks, then go for the lower average (12.5 hours/week). I did that just to be on the safer side.

Secondly, I had a Google Sheet with the Paytub's date, number of hours (for the two weeks), pay, and job title. Every time I get paid, I downloaded my paystub into a dedicated file on my desktop, entered all the info into my google sheet and recalculated the total number of hours I worked so far and how many hours are left to reach the 1560 hours.

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions. Best of luck.

I’m so grateful to you! Thank you so much – you’ve really saved me! I have one more question: In a situation where the work hours are not fixed, how should the "number of work hours per week" be stated in the reference letter? Is the number of hours on the reference letter different from what we enter in the EE profile?

 

[yasw]

I’m so grateful to you! Thank you so much – you’ve really saved me! I have one more question: In a situation where the work hours are not fixed, how should the "number of work hours per week" be stated in the reference letter? Is the number of hours on the reference letter different from what we enter in the EE profile?

The number of hours MUST be stated on your Proof of Employment/ Reference or Experience Letter, it is part of what the IRCC insists to be included. So what you'll do is that you'll include a range, meaning "MatrixCc worked 20-30 hours weekly" (or whatever your range/average). And NEVER leave your HR to write the letter for you, because IRCC mentions some important info the officer needs to see and not all HR departments are aware of the requirements. You prepare your letter yourself, include the hour range, the pay, your title, your job duties/responsibility that aligns & matches with your NOC, signature of the HR should be NOT in black pen. (blue or even red) , header with the company's name, address, contact info, recent date, then request the HR signature and approval. I had to tweak it a few times until I reached an acceptable copy.

This is what I did:
First page : Letter of Explanation; I stated all the documents included in the (combined) PDF
Second page: Letter of Explanation that matches my EE profile and what IRCC is looking for in am Experience letter.
Third page/section: A copy of my Google Sheets (remember how I used to track everything). I included a copy of the pay dates, hours and title columns. The officer doesn't have time to look at every paystub and do the math. You do the heavy lifting because they won't have the patience to do so. I included a breakdown of the hours and the total.
Forth page/section: ALL paystubs (I had almost 3 years of experience at the time and I included every single paystub).
Fifth page/section: Your T4.

I combined and compressed all the 5 sections in one PDF and uploaded it the proof of experience section for this job.

Hope this helps.