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If the outcome is unfavorable, the actual costs related to labor were more than the expected (standard) costs. If the outcome is favorable, the actual costs related to labor are less than the expected (standard) costs. Direct labor rate variance arise from the difference in actual pay rate of laborers versus what is budgeted. When calculating direct labor cost, the company must include every cost item incurred in keeping and hiring employees. In addition to what the company pays the employees, it must consider costs to retain employees, such as payroll tax contributions, insurance premiums, and benefits costs. Hence, variance arises due to the difference between actual time worked and the total hours that should have been worked.

Direct labor rate variance is equal to the difference between actual hourly rate and standard hourly rate multiplied by the actual hours worked during the period. The variance would be favorable if the actual direct labor cost is less than the standard direct labor cost allowed for actual hours worked by direct labor workers during the period concerned. Conversely, it would be unfavorable if the actual direct labor cost is more than the standard direct labor cost allowed for actual hours worked.

Direct Labor Rate Variance

This is an unfavorable outcome because the actual rate per hour was more than the standard rate per hour. As a result of this unfavorable outcome information, the company may consider using cheaper labor, changing the production process to be more efficient, or increasing https://turbo-tax.org/period-costs-vs-product-costs-what-s-the/ prices to cover labor costs. Direct labor rate variance (also called direct labor price or spending variance) is the difference between the total cost of direct labor at standard cost (i.e. direct labor hours at standard rate) and the actual direct labor cost.

During June 2022, Bright Company’s workers worked for 450 hours to manufacture 180 units of finished product. The standard direct labor rate was set at $5.60 per hour but the direct labor workers were actually paid at a rate of $5.40 per hour. Find the direct labor rate variance of Bright Company for the month of June. Direct labor rate variance determines the performance of human resource department in negotiating lower wage rates with employees and labor unions. A positive value of direct labor rate variance is achieved when standard direct labor rate exceeds actual direct labor rate. Thus positive values of direct labor rate variance as calculated above, are favorable and negative values are unfavorable.

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If we compute for the actual rate per hour used (which will be useful for further analysis later), we would get $8.25; i.e. $325,875 divided by 39,500 hours. At first glance, the responsibility of any unfavorable direct labor efficiency variance lies with the production supervisors and/or foremen because they are generally the persons in charge of using direct labor force. However, it may also occur due to substandard or low quality direct materials which require more time to handle and process. If direct materials is the cause of adverse variance, then purchase manager should bear the responsibility for his negligence in acquiring the right materials for his factory. We actually paid $46,500 for labor for which we expected to pay $41,850.

If the direct labor cost is $6.00 per hour, the variance in dollars would be $0.90 (0.15 hours × $6.00). For proper financial measurement, the variance is normally expressed in dollars rather than hours. A difference between the standard wage and actual wages paid during a certain period of time, denote the direct labor rate variance. Favorable rate variance is attained when the standard labor hours rate exceeds the actual direct labor hours rate.

Types of Labor Cost Variance

Direct labor includes the cost of regular working hours, as well as the overtime hours worked. It also includes related payroll taxes and expenses such as social security, Medicare, unemployment tax, and worker’s employment insurance. Companies should also include pension plan contributions, as well as health insurance-related expenses.

• If the total actual cost incurred is less than the total standard cost, the variance is favorable.
• The same calculation is shown as follows using the outcomes of the direct labor rate and time variances.
• Labor yield variance arises when there is a variation in actual output from standard.
• A favorable labor rate variance suggests cost efficient employment of direct labor by the organization.
• Hence, variance arises due to the difference between actual time worked and the total hours that should have been worked.

Labor rate variance arises when labor is paid at a rate that differs from the standard wage rate. Labor efficiency variance arises when the actual hours worked vary from standard, resulting in a higher or lower standard time recorded for a given output. In this question, the Bright Company has experienced a favorable labor rate variance of $45 because it has paid a lower hourly rate ($5.40) than the standard hourly rate ($5.50). The other two variances that are generally computed for direct labor cost are the direct labor efficiency variance and direct labor yield variance. The labor cost per unit is obtained by multiplying the direct labor hourly rate by the time required to complete one unit of a product.

Direct Labor Variances

All tasks do not require equally skilled workers; some tasks are more complicated and require more experienced workers than others. This general fact should be kept in mind while assigning tasks to available work force. If the tasks that are not so complicated are assigned to very experienced workers, an unfavorable labor rate variance may be the result.

• For example, if it takes 100 hours to produce 1,000 items, 1 hour is needed to produce 10 products and 0.1 hours to produce 1 unit.
• Direct labor rate variance (also called direct labor price or spending variance) is the difference between the total cost of direct labor at standard cost (i.e. direct labor hours at standard rate) and the actual direct labor cost.
• The standard rate per hour is the expected rate of pay for workers to create one unit of product.
• Doctors know the standard and try to schedule accordingly so a variance does not exist.
• By showing the total direct labor variance as the sum of the two components, management can better analyze the two variances and enhance decision-making.

The standard time to manufacture a product at Hitech is 2.5 direct labor hours. In other words, when actual number of hours worked differ from the standard number of hours allowed to manufacture a certain number of units, labor efficiency variance occurs. In this case, the actual rate per hour is $9.50, the standard rate per hour is $8.00, and the actual hours worked per box are 0.10 hours.

What is Direct Labor?

As it turned out, the actual number of hours turned out to be 412 hours and the rate per hour was $21 per hour. Note that in contrast to direct labor, indirect labor consists of work that is not directly related to transforming the materials into finished goods. Examples include salaries of supervisors, janitors, and security guards. Reporting the absolute value of the number (without regard to the negative sign) and an Unfavorable label makes this easier for management to read. We can also see that this is an unfavorable variance just based on the fact that we paid $20 per hour instead of the $18 that we used when building our budget.

Some companies may include employee training and development costs that were incurred in the course of employment. Boulevard Blanks has set the standard cost for labor at $18 per hour. Let’s say our accounting records show that the line workers put in a total of 2,325 hours during the month. Managers can better address this situation if they have a breakdown of the variances between quantity and rate. Specifically, knowing the amount and direction of the difference for each can help them take targeted measures forimprovement. An example is when a highly paid worker performs a low-level task, which influences labor efficiency variance.