Taplin Systems
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Workforce planning / contractor calculators

Overtime vs. Additional Staff Calculator

Compare labor cost and completion time for overtime on your current crew versus adding workers to complete the same remaining workload.

01 / Inputs

Use your crew numbers

Example values are loaded. Replace them with your own figures. Every field is required; enter 0 where it applies and is allowed.

Total person-hours needed at baseline productivity, not crew elapsed hours. Greater than 0.
Greater than 0, whole number.
Greater than 0, maximum 168.
Greater than 0.
Minimum 0, maximum 168.
Applied to the whole entered loaded hourly cost; not a payroll-law calculation. Minimum 1.
Relative to a regular hour; allows for fatigue. Greater than 0, maximum 100.
Greater than 0, whole number.
Minimum 0.
Greater than 0, maximum 100.
One-time total for all additional workers, not per worker. Minimum 0.

02 / Result

Side-by-side comparison

Additional staff is cheaper by

$1,651.55

USD, modeled labor cost difference

Overtime on current crew

Total labor cost (USD)
$19,051.55
Duration (workweeks)
2.47
Paid overtime hours
98.97 hours

Add crew members

Lower costFaster
Total labor cost (USD)
$17,400.00
Duration (workweeks)
2.00
Onboarding cost included
$600.00
Baseline: current crew, no overtime
3.00 workweeks
Time saved vs. baseline
OT 0.53 / Staff 1.00 wk

How the math works

Overtime weeks = workload ÷ (regular crew capacity + overtime hours × overtime efficiency). Additional-staff weeks = workload ÷ (regular crew capacity + new-worker hours × new-worker efficiency). Each cost = weekly paid labor cost × its own duration; add the total onboarding cost only to the additional-staff option.

Workforce assumptions

Both options finish the same productive workload, with fractional weeks and proportional paid hours. Existing regular hours use baseline productivity. New workers are assumed available immediately. The multiplier applies to loaded cost, not just wages. No materials, supervision, insurance changes, recruitment lead time, payroll rules, or minimum shift costs are modeled. Cheaper does not necessarily mean faster.

Planning estimate only, calculated locally in your browser. Results are averages from your inputs, not an exact schedule or guaranteed finish date. Confirm crew availability, sequencing, and payroll rules before committing to a customer or bid.

Contractor field notes

Compare staffing options against the same remaining workload

Overtime and additional staff can change both completion time and labor cost. This calculator finishes the same productive person-hour workload under each option, includes reduced overtime or new-worker productivity, and adds one total hiring/onboarding charge to the additional-staff option. It identifies the lower modeled cost while showing each option’s duration.

Pay for hours while allowing for different productivity

Regular capacity = current workers × regular hours per week. Overtime duration = workload ÷ (regular capacity + paid overtime hours × overtime efficiency). Staff duration = workload ÷ (regular capacity + additional paid hours × new-worker efficiency). Cost = each option’s weekly paid labor cost × its duration, plus total onboarding cost for new staff.

Worked example

For 480 productive labor-hours, four current workers at 40 regular hours per week and $35 loaded hourly cost, assume ten overtime hours each, a 1.5 overtime multiplier, and 100% overtime productivity. Overtime capacity is 200 hours per week, duration is 2.4 weeks, and cost is 2.4 × ($5,600 + $2,100) = $18,480. Two additional workers at $35/hour and 100% productivity produce a two-week duration costing $16,800 + $600 total onboarding = $17,400. Additional staff is $1,080 cheaper and 0.4 workweeks faster. Lower overtime productivity changes this comparison.

Common estimating pitfalls

  • Remaining workload is productive person-hours, not elapsed hours for the crew.
  • The overtime multiplier applies to the entered loaded hourly cost; this model is not a statutory wage or payroll calculation.
  • Workers are assumed available immediately. Recruitment delays, supervision, minimum shift lengths, and other project costs can change the real decision.

Frequently asked questions

Does the cheapest option always finish sooner?

No. Check the displayed cost and workweeks for both options. Different rates, productivity, and onboarding costs can make the faster option more expensive.

Is onboarding cost per new worker?

No. Enter the total one-time hiring and onboarding cost for all additional workers. It is added once to the additional-staff option.

Does this verify overtime-law compliance?

No. It is a comparative planning estimate using your cost multiplier. Confirm wage rules, overtime thresholds, benefits, worker classification, and employment requirements separately.