Question

The Assembly Department produced 1,000 units of product during March. Each unit required 1.25 standard direct labor hours. There were 1,300 actual hours used in the Assembly Department during March at an actual rate of $12 per hour. The standard direct labor rate is $12.5 per hour.
Required:
Assuming direct labor for a month is paid on the fifth day of the following month, journalize the direct labor in the Assembly Department on March 31.

Answer 1

Answer:

Debit Work in process for $15,625

Debit Direct labor time variance for $625

Credit Direct labor rate variance for $650

Credit Wage payable for $15,600

Explanation:

Before preparing the journal, the following calculations are done first:

Wage payable = Actual hours * Actual rate per hour = 1,300 * $12 = $15,600

Direct labor time variance = (Actual hours - Standard hours) * Standard direct labor rate = (1,300 - (1,000 * 1.25)) * $12.50 = $625 Unfavorable

Note: Direct labor time variance is Unfavorable because Actual hours is greater than Standard hours.

Direct labor rate variance = (Actual rate - Standard rate) * Actual hours = ($12 - $12.50) * 1,300 = -$650 Favorable

Note: Direct labor rate variance if Favorable because Actual rate is lower than the Standard rate.

Work in process = Wage payable + Absolute value of direct labor rate variance - Direct labor time variance = $15,600 + $650 - $625 = $15,625

The journal entries will now look as follows:

Date           Particulars                                         Debit ($)           Credit ($)  

Mar. 31       Work in process                                  15,625

                  Direct labor time variance                      625

                  Direct labor rate variance                                                 650

                  Wage payable                                                               15,600

                  (To record the direct labor in the Assembly Department.)