--- title: "Overtime: Explanation of the graphical layout" description: This article clearly explains what the filters in the time balance section mean, using easy-to-follow examples. --- [Skip to content](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/overtime-explanation-of-the-graphical-layout#main-content) - [English](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/overtime-explanation-of-the-graphical-layout) - [German](https://info.absence.io/de/help-center/überstunden-erklärung-der-grafischen-darstellung) - [Spanish](https://info.absence.io/es/help-center/horas-extra-explicación-de-la-vista-gráfica-mediante-los-filtros) English Show submenu for translations [![Design ohne Titel (2)](https://info.absence.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Design%20ohne%20Titel%20(2).png?width=210&height=44&name=Design%20ohne%20Titel%20(2).png)](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - - [English](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/overtime-explanation-of-the-graphical-layout) - [German](https://info.absence.io/de/help-center/überstunden-erklärung-der-grafischen-darstellung) - [Spanish](https://info.absence.io/es/help-center/horas-extra-explicación-de-la-vista-gráfica-mediante-los-filtros) English Show submenu for translations - [Contact our support](https://1r1be.share.hsforms.com/2cmG1EH3QR-2fjl6Hg3EKhA) [Contact our support](https://1r1be.share.hsforms.com/2cmG1EH3QR-2fjl6Hg3EKhA) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [absence.io Help Center](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center?hsLang=en) 2. [Time Tracking](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/time-tracking?hsLang=en) 3. [Time Tracking](https://info.absence.io/en/help-center/time-tracking?hsLang=en#time-tracking) # Overtime: Explanation of the graphical layout **What do the different filter settings in the Balance section mean?** When you click on the small square next to **“Balance”**, the filter settings will open. These settings can affect the hours displayed in your Time Balance, as they define the period used for the calculation. **Filter FROM:** ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-09-02 um 15.34.01](https://info.absence.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Helpcenter/Bildschirmfoto%202026-09-02%20um%2015.34.01.png?width=670&height=355&name=Bildschirmfoto%202026-09-02%20um%2015.34.01.png) - **Initial Date:** The date stored in the user’s profile under **Public Information → Time Tracking** is used. This represents the start date of the user’s time tracking. - **First Entry:** The earliest date for which a time tracking entry exists in the system. **Important:** The initial balance in the user’s profile is linked to the **Initial Date**. If the first entry was created on a later date, the system will calculate the balance without the initial balance when using this filter. - **Last Compensation:** Uses the date of the most recent hour compensation as the starting point and does not include individual days before that date. This is why it is important to use continuous compensation periods. - **Start of…:** Allows you to select any start date from the calendar. **Filter TO:** ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-09-02 um 15.34.12](https://info.absence.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Helpcenter/Bildschirmfoto%202026-09-02%20um%2015.34.12.png?width=670&height=356&name=Bildschirmfoto%202026-09-02%20um%2015.34.12.png) - **Now:** The current moment – meaning the balance is calculated up to the current hour/minute. This means: your **overtime balance from yesterday plus/minus** the time you have **worked outside your work schedule so far today**. **Important:** - This view does **not** show how many hours you would have if you **stopped working NOW**. For this, use the **“End of Day”** filter. - You can find more information and examples below under 🚫. - **End of Day:** If you want to know what your overtime balance would be if you stopped working now, this is the right view for you. It deducts the remaining scheduled working time for the day from your Time Balance. **(recommended)** - **Yesterday:** Shows your Time Balance up to the end of yesterday, without including today’s data, which may still change. **(recommended)** - **End of…:** Allows you to select any end date from the calendar. #### 🚫 What you need to keep in mind when using “Now”: 1. **Predefined breaks are not (yet) taken into account:** If a break is scheduled in your work schedule but you have not clocked it yet (or have worked through it), it is **not deducted yet**. ➤ As soon as you clock out, the system automatically deducts the break – but not before. 2. **Starting work outside your work schedule:** If you start working **earlier or later than scheduled**, this will initially result in **overtime or undertime**. ### 💡 Example to illustrate the different filters ##### Example work schedule: **8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (working time), 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (break), 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM (working time)** **From “Initial Date” to “Yesterday”** You have accumulated +1 hour of overtime from your initial date up to yesterday. The current time does not matter – the calculation only includes data up to and including yesterday. **From “Initial Date” to “End of Day”** You clocked in at 8:00 AM, worked until 12:00 PM, and would like to stop working now. The system deducts the remaining scheduled working time until 6:00 PM because the day has not yet been completed. **Result:** –3 hours, as 4 hours of scheduled working time are still missing. **From “Initial Date” to “Now”** You clocked in at 7:45 AM, it is currently 12:30 PM, and you are still clocked in. The system counts: - Time worked before your scheduled working hours as overtime - Time worked during your scheduled break as overtime **Result:** +1 h 45 min overtime. The system calculates your current overtime balance precisely up to this moment – without anticipating whether or when you will stop working later, and without calculating what your overtime balance would be if you stopped working immediately. In this example, the +1 h 45 min consists of **15 minutes before your scheduled working hours + 30 minutes during the break + 1 hour from yesterday**. Have fun using our solution! 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