Managing Time Clock

Learn how to monitor your crew, approve time entries, and manage time tracking data

What You'll Learn

  • Monitoring crew members who are currently clocked in
  • Approving and rejecting time entries
  • Editing time entries for your crew
  • Creating manual time entries for crew members
  • Managing activity codes
  • Filtering and exporting time data
  • Using the audit log to track changes
  • Best practices for time approval workflows

Work in Progress

This guide is currently being vetted for accuracy. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us directly.

Overview

Time Clock Management gives you complete oversight of your crew's time tracking. Monitor who's currently working, approve time entries, make corrections, export data for payroll, and maintain accurate records with full audit trails.

Admin time clock management interface

Key Capabilities:

  • Monitor active crew members in real-time
  • Approve or reject time entries with reasons
  • Bulk approve multiple entries at once
  • Edit any time entry (with full audit trail)
  • Create manual entries for crew members who forgot to clock in/out
  • Manage custom activity codes for categorization
  • Filter by crew member, project, status, and date range
  • Export filtered data to CSV for payroll
  • View complete audit history of all changes

Accessing Time Clock Management

Time Clock Management is accessed through the Admin Settings Panel.

  1. On desktop: Access the menu from the top navigation bar
  2. On mobile: Tap the hamburger menu icon (☰) on the right
  3. Select "Admin Settings Panel" from the menu
  4. The panel slides in from the left
Tip: On desktop, you can keep the Admin Settings Panel open while working in multiple tabs.
  1. Look for the Time Clock Management card (⏰ or ✅ icon)
  2. Tap the card to open Time Clock Management
  3. The admin time clock page loads

Understanding the Admin Interface

Main Interface Components

Key Elements:

1. Summary Statistics Panel (Top)

  • Pending Count: Entries awaiting approval
  • Approved Count: Total approved this period
  • Total Hours: Sum of hours in current filter
  • Total Entries: Count of all filtered entries
  • Active Now: Currently clocked-in crew members

2. Filter Controls

  • User Filter: Dropdown to select specific crew member (or "All Users")
  • Project Filter: Filter by job site
  • Status Filter: Active Now, Submitted, Approved, Rejected, All
  • Date Range Filter: This Week, Last Week, This Month, Custom

3. Bulk Actions

  • Select All checkbox: Select all visible entries
  • Approve Selected button: Bulk approve checked entries
  • Export CSV button: Download filtered data

4. Time Entry List

  • Individual time entry cards
  • Each shows: Crew member name, date, times, duration, project, status
  • Action menu (⋮) for approve/reject/edit/delete
  • Checkbox for bulk selection
  • Pagination: 15 entries per page

Desktop vs. Mobile Layout

Desktop:

  • Summary stats in horizontal row
  • Side-by-side filters
  • Full table view
  • Larger action buttons

Mobile:

  • Stacked summary cards
  • Vertical filter layout
  • Card-based entry display
  • Collapsible filters

Active Now: Monitoring Clocked-In Crew

What is Active Now?

Active Now is the default view that shows all crew members currently clocked in and working.

Why It's Useful:

  • See who's currently on the job
  • Real-time duration tracking
  • Verify crew are at correct projects
  • Monitor compliance with schedules
  • Quickly spot issues (wrong project, missing notes)

Active Now Display

Each active entry shows:

  • Crew Member Name: Who's clocked in
  • Clock In Time: When they started
  • Elapsed Duration: How long they've been working (updates every minute)
  • Current Project: What job site (if assigned)
  • Activity: What they're doing (if assigned)
  • Notes: Any notes they added when clocking in
  • Real-time Indicator: Green dot or "Active" badge

Using Active Now View

To Access:

  1. Open Time Clock Management
  2. Status filter defaults to "Active Now"
  3. See all currently working crew members

Common Use Cases:

Morning Check-In

Review Active Now at the start of the day:

  • Verify expected crew members have clocked in
  • Check if anyone clocked into wrong project
  • Ensure activities are assigned correctly
  • Contact crew members who should be working but aren't clocked in

Mid-Day Spot Check

Check Active Now during the day:

  • Confirm crew are still clocked in
  • Watch for unusually long durations (forgot to clock out?)
  • Verify lunch break compliance

End of Day Review

Review Active Now before leaving:

  • Ensure all crew members have clocked out
  • Reach out to anyone still showing active
  • Prevent overnight time entries from forgotten clock-outs

Editing Active Entries

You can edit active entries while crew members are still clocked in.

What You Can Edit:

  • Project assignment
  • Activity code
  • Notes
  • Clock in time (wait for clock out, then edit)
  • Clock out time (not clocked out yet)

To Edit Active Entry:

  1. Find the active entry
  2. Tap three-dot menu (⋮) → Edit
  3. Change project, activity, or notes
  4. Save
Tip: If a crew member clocked into the wrong project, edit their active entry to fix it immediately.

Filtering Time Entries

Filter by Crew Member

View time entries for a specific crew member.

To Filter by Crew Member:

  1. Open the "User" or "Crew Member" dropdown
  2. Select a crew member's name
  3. All other filters still apply

Use Cases:

  • Review one person's week before payroll
  • Verify a specific crew member's hours
  • Check entries for a crew member who reported an issue
  • Monitor new employee's time tracking habits

Filter by Project

View time entries for a specific job site.

To Filter by Project:

  1. Open the "Project" dropdown
  2. Select a project name
  3. See all time entries assigned to that project

Use Cases:

  • Calculate total labor hours on a project
  • Verify crew hours match project budget
  • Review time entries for billing purposes
  • Identify which crew members worked on which projects

Filter by Status

View entries based on their approval status.

Status Options:

Active Now (Default):

  • Currently clocked-in crew members
  • Real-time elapsed time
  • Green active indicators

Submitted:

  • Entries waiting for your approval
  • Blue badges
  • Action required

Approved:

  • Entries you've already approved
  • Green badges
  • Locked from crew edits

Rejected:

  • Entries you've rejected
  • Red badges
  • Show rejection reasons

All:

  • Every time entry regardless of status
  • Useful for comprehensive reviews

Filter by Date Range

View entries from specific time periods.

Quick Date Ranges:

This Week:

  • Sunday to Saturday (current week)
  • Default view
  • Most common for weekly approval

Last Week:

  • Previous Sunday to Saturday
  • Review before finalizing payroll
  • Useful for historical review

This Month:

  • First day to last day of current month
  • Monthly reporting
  • Budget tracking

Custom Range:

  • Select any start and end date
  • Specific pay periods
  • Historical data review
  • Exact date range needed

To Use Custom Range:

  1. Select "Custom Range"
  2. Pick Start Date
  3. Pick End Date
  4. Tap "Apply"

Combining Filters

All filters work together for precise data views.

Example Combinations:

Scenario 1: Review John's submitted entries this week

  • User: John Smith
  • Status: Submitted
  • Date: This Week
  • Project: All

Scenario 2: All approved time on Balmoral project this month

  • User: All Users
  • Status: Approved
  • Date: This Month
  • Project: Balmoral Renovation
Tip: Use filters to narrow down entries before bulk approving or exporting to CSV.

Approving Time Entries

Single Entry Approval

Approve individual time entries one at a time.

To Approve Single Entry:

  1. Find the time entry (filter by "Submitted" status)
  2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) on the entry card
  3. Select "Approve"
  4. Confirm approval
Success: Entry status changes to "Approved" (green badge), crew member can no longer edit, entry is locked for payroll, and approved timestamp and your name are recorded.

Bulk Approval

Approve multiple time entries at once for faster processing.

Step 1: Select Entries

  1. Filter to show entries you want to approve (e.g., Status: Submitted, Date: This Week)
  2. Check the box next to each entry you want to approve
  3. Or use "Select All" checkbox at the top

Step 2: Approve

  1. Look for "Approve Selected" button
  2. Tap the button
  3. Review count of entries to approve
  4. Confirm bulk approval
Success: All selected entries are approved simultaneously.

Bulk Approval Best Practices

Weekly Approval Workflow

Monday Morning Routine:

  1. Filter: Status = Submitted, Date = Last Week
  2. Review each entry for accuracy
  3. Fix any issues (edit times, projects, etc.)
  4. Select all correct entries
  5. Bulk approve
  6. Handle exceptions individually

Result: Last week approved and ready for payroll export.

Daily Quick Approval

End of Each Day:

  1. Filter: Status = Submitted, Date = Today
  2. Quick review for obvious issues
  3. Approve all today's entries
  4. Address any problems immediately while fresh

Result: Reduces end-of-week backlog.

Rejecting Time Entries

When to Reject Entries

Reject time entries when they need correction or are inaccurate.

Common Rejection Reasons:

  • Clock in/out times don't match schedule
  • Wrong project assigned
  • Duration is unrealistic or incorrect
  • Overlapping time entries
  • Missing required activity code
  • Notes indicate non-work time

How to Reject an Entry

Step 1: Open Reject Dialog

  1. Find the time entry
  2. Tap three-dot menu (⋮) → "Reject"
  3. Rejection reason dialog opens

Step 2: Provide Rejection Reason

  1. Enter a clear, specific reason
  2. Explain what needs to be corrected
  3. Be professional and helpful

Examples of Good Rejection Reasons:

  • "Clock in time too early - scheduled shift starts at 7:00 AM, not 6:00 AM"
  • "Please select Balmoral project - you were scheduled there this day"
  • "Duration exceeds 8 hours without approved overtime - please verify times"
  • "Overlaps with your 8 AM - 4 PM entry - please correct times"

Examples to Avoid:

  • "Wrong" (not helpful)
  • "Fix this" (unclear what's wrong)
  • "No" (unprofessional)

Step 3: Confirm Rejection

  1. Review your reason
  2. Tap "Reject" or "Confirm"
Important: Entry status changes to "Rejected" (red badge). Crew member sees rejection reason and must delete and recreate corrected entry.

After Rejecting

What the Crew Member Sees:

  • Red "Rejected" badge on entry
  • Your rejection reason displayed
  • Cannot edit rejected entries
  • Must delete and create new corrected entry

Follow Up:

  • Monitor for corrected entry submission
  • Be available to answer crew member questions
  • Approve corrected entry promptly
Tip: Consider calling or messaging the crew member when rejecting to explain the issue and ensure they understand what needs to be fixed.

Editing Time Entries

Admin Edit Capabilities

As an administrator, you can edit any time entry at any status, even after approval.

What You Can Edit:

  • Clock in time
  • Clock out time
  • Date
  • Project assignment
  • Activity code
  • Notes
  • Can edit submitted, approved, or rejected entries

How to Edit a Time Entry

Step 1: Open Edit Dialog

  1. Find the time entry
  2. Tap three-dot menu (⋮) → "Edit"
  3. Edit form opens with current values

Step 2: Make Changes

Time Changes:

  • Adjust clock in time using time picker
  • Adjust clock out time using time picker
  • Duration recalculates automatically

Project/Activity Changes:

  • Select different project from dropdown
  • Select different activity code
  • Add or modify notes

Step 3: Review Disclaimer

When editing a crew member's entry, you'll see a disclaimer:

Important: You are editing a time entry created by [Crew Member Name]. Changes will be recorded in the audit log.

Step 4: Save Changes

  1. Review all changes
  2. Tap "Save" or "Update Entry"
Success: Entry is updated, change is recorded in audit log, and crew member sees updated entry.

Common Editing Scenarios

Crew Member Forgot to Clock Out

Scenario: Crew member went home but didn't clock out. Entry shows clock in but no clock out (still active).

Solution:

  1. Find the active entry
  2. Edit → Set clock out time to when they actually left
  3. Add note: "Clocked out by admin - crew member forgot"
  4. Save

Entry is now complete with correct hours.

Fix Incorrect Times

Scenario: Crew member clocked in at 6:00 AM but shift starts at 7:00 AM. Entry already approved.

Solution:

  1. Find the approved entry
  2. Edit → Change clock in from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM
  3. Duration updates from 9h to 8h
  4. Add note: "Adjusted to scheduled shift time"
  5. Save

Entry now reflects actual work hours.

Tip: Always add a note when editing to explain why for future reference. All edits are tracked in the audit log.

Creating Manual Entries for Crew Members

New in v1.31.0 - Create time entries on behalf of your crew members.

When to Create Manual Entries

Create manual entries for crew members when:

  • Crew member forgot to clock in/out and can't fix it themselves
  • Crew member was unable to access the app (no phone, battery died)
  • Retroactive time entry for past work
  • Special circumstances (emergency, equipment failure)

How to Create Manual Entry for a Crew Member

Step 1: Open Manual Entry Form

  1. Look for "Add Manual Entry" or "Create Entry" button
  2. Tap to open the form

Step 2: Select Crew Member

Crew Member (Required):

  • Select the crew member from dropdown
  • Only shows crew members in your company
  • Searchable list

Step 3: Enter Time Details

Date (Required):

  • Select the work date
  • Can be today or past dates
  • Cannot be in future

Clock In Time (Required):

  • When crew member started
  • Use time picker

Clock Out Time (Required):

  • When crew member finished
  • Must be after clock in time
  • Duration calculates automatically
Important: System checks for overlapping entries and shows warning if found.

Step 4: Add Project and Activity

Project (Optional):

  • Assign to job site
  • Helps with billing and tracking

Activity (Optional/Required):

  • Select activity code
  • May be required per company settings

Step 5: Add Notes

Notes (Recommended):

  • Explain why you're creating this manually
  • Example: "Created by admin - crew member's phone died"
  • Example: "Retroactive entry - forgot to clock in"
  • Shows transparency in audit log

Step 6: Submit

  1. Review all details
  2. Check for overlap warnings
  3. Tap "Submit" or "Create Entry"
Success: Time entry created with status "Submitted", flagged as "Manual (Admin)" in audit log, crew member sees entry in their time clock, and entry goes through normal approval workflow.

Manual Entry Best Practices

  • Always Add Explanatory Notes: Explain the situation clearly, helps with future audits
  • Verify with Crew Member First: Confirm the times, double-check project and activity
  • Use Correct Entry Source: Manual entries are automatically tagged as "Manual (Admin)" for transparency
  • Follow Up: Remind crew member to clock in/out properly, address recurring issues

Managing Activity Codes

Activity codes help categorize time entries for accounting, billing, and reporting.

What Are Activity Codes?

Activities are work categories that crew members select when clocking in.

Each Activity Has:

  • Name: Full description (e.g., "General Labor")
  • Code: Short accounting code (e.g., "GL")
  • Description: Optional explanation
  • Status: Active (shown in dropdowns) or Inactive (hidden)

Examples:

  • FR - Framing
  • DW - Drywall
  • EL - Electrical Work
  • PL - Plumbing
  • GL - General Labor
  • SM - Safety Meeting

Accessing Activity Management

Path: Admin Settings Panel → Resources → Manage Activities

Who Can Access:

  • Developers
  • Company Owners
  • Administrators

Creating a New Activity

To Create Activity:

  1. Navigate to Manage Activities
  2. Tap "Add Activity" button
  3. Fill in the form:
    • Name (required): Full activity name (max 100 characters)
    • Code (required): Short code (max 20 characters, auto-uppercase)
    • Description (optional): When to use this activity
  4. Tap "Save"
Success: Activity is now available in time clock dropdowns.

Activity Code Best Practices

Keep Codes Short

Good: FR, DW, EL, PL, GL

Avoid: FRAMING, DRYW, ELEC123

Short codes are easier to remember and scan.

Align with Accounting System

If you use accounting software with cost codes:

  • Match your activity codes to your accounting codes
  • Makes CSV export seamless
  • Simplifies payroll integration

Limit Total Number

Aim for: 15-30 activities

Avoid: 100+ hyper-specific codes

Too many activities confuses crew members and slows clock-in.

Requiring Activity Selection

Toggle Setting: Require Activity ON/OFF

When ON:

  • Crew members must select an activity when clocking in
  • Activity dropdown marked with red asterisk (*)
  • Validation prevents clock-in without selection

When OFF (Default):

  • Activity selection is optional
  • Crew members can clock in without selecting
Tip: Enable this if your accounting system requires activity codes on all time entries.

Exporting to CSV

Export time entry data for payroll processing, accounting, or reporting.

What Gets Exported

CSV Includes:

  • Crew member name
  • Date
  • Clock in time
  • Clock out time
  • Duration (in hours)
  • Project name
  • Activity code and name
  • Status (Submitted, Approved, Rejected)
  • Notes
  • Entry source (Clock In/Out, Manual User, Manual Admin)

How to Export

Step 1: Filter Your Data

  1. Use filters to select exactly what you want to export
  2. Examples:
    • Date: Last Week
    • Status: Approved
    • User: All
    • Project: All

Step 2: Export

  1. Tap "Export CSV" button
  2. File downloads automatically

Step 3: Open in Excel/Sheets

  1. Open the downloaded file
  2. Review data
  3. Process for payroll or import into accounting software

Filename Format: time-entries-YYYY-MM-DD.csv

Export Use Cases

Weekly Payroll

Process:

  1. Filter: Date = Last Week, Status = Approved
  2. Export CSV
  3. Open in Excel
  4. Calculate total hours per crew member
  5. Process payroll

Project Billing

Process:

  1. Filter: Project = Balmoral Renovation, Date = This Month, Status = Approved
  2. Export CSV
  3. Sum total hours for project
  4. Calculate labor costs
  5. Invoice client

Viewing Audit History

Feature: Complete audit trail for all time entry changes (v1.25.0)

What is the Audit Log?

The audit log shows every change made to a time entry, creating complete transparency and accountability.

Accessing Audit History

To View:

  1. Find a time entry
  2. Look for "View History" or "Audit Log" button/link
  3. Tap to open audit timeline

What the Audit Log Shows

Event Types:

  • Created: When entry was first created (clock in)
  • Clock Out: When entry was completed
  • Edited: Any modifications to times, project, notes
  • Approved: When and by whom entry was approved
  • Rejected: When and by whom entry was rejected (with reason)
  • Deleted: If entry was deleted

For Each Event:

  • Timestamp: Exact date and time
  • User: Who performed the action
  • Changes: What was modified (old value → new value)
  • Notes: Any notes added with the change

Using Audit Logs

Accountability:

  • See exactly who made changes and when
  • Verify admin edits are documented
  • Track approval workflow

Troubleshooting:

  • Investigate discrepancies
  • Understand why hours changed
  • Review crew member concerns about time entries

Compliance:

  • Labor law compliance
  • Payroll audits
  • Dispute resolution
Tip: Review audit logs when crew members question their hours or when investigating payroll discrepancies.

Tips & Best Practices

Daily Active Now Check

  • Review Active Now each morning to verify crew clocked in
  • Check at end of day to catch forgotten clock-outs
  • Reach out to crew members showing unusually long durations

Timely Approval

  • Approve entries daily or every other day to reduce backlog
  • Don't wait until payroll deadline to approve entire week
  • Crew members appreciate quick approval confirmations

Clear Rejection Reasons

  • Be specific and helpful when rejecting
  • Explain exactly what needs correction
  • Offer guidance: "Please change clock in to 7:00 AM per your schedule"

Document Edits

  • Always add notes when editing entries
  • Explain why: "Adjusted per conversation with John"
  • Creates clear audit trail

Weekly Review Routine

  • Set aside time every Monday for last week's approval
  • Filter: Date = Last Week, Status = Submitted
  • Bulk approve after quick review
  • Export approved entries for payroll

Communicate with Crew

  • Let crew members know your approval schedule
  • Set expectations: "Time entries approved every Monday and Thursday"
  • Address recurring issues in team meetings

Use Filters Effectively

  • Start broad, then narrow (All → This Week → Specific User)
  • Save time by filtering before bulk operations
  • Export only what you need with targeted filters

Verify Against Schedule

  • Cross-reference time entries with schedules
  • Ensure crew members clocked into assigned projects
  • Flag mismatches for correction

Monitor Patterns

  • Watch for trends: Same crew member frequently forgets to clock in
  • Address training gaps: Crew unsure which activity to select
  • Improve processes: Automate reminders if issues persist

Troubleshooting

Steps to Verify:

  1. Check Active Now view - is entry there?
  2. Filter by that crew member - see any entries today?
  3. Check all statuses (not just submitted)
  4. Ask crew member to show you their Time Clock page
  5. Verify they confirmed the clock in

Solution:

  • If no entry exists, create a manual entry for the crew member
  • If entry exists but crew member doesn't see it, have them refresh
  • Contact support if data is truly missing

Possible Reasons:

  • Entry is already approved (check status badge)
  • Entry is currently active (not clocked out yet)
  • Permission issue
  • Internet connection problem

Solutions:

  1. Check entry status - green means already approved
  2. If active, ask crew member to clock out first
  3. Refresh the page
  4. Verify your admin permissions

Likely Cause: Crew member forgot to clock out, entry still active overnight or multiple days.

Solution:

  1. Check if entry is active (no clock out time)
  2. Edit entry → Set clock out time to when they actually left
  3. Add note: "Clocked out by admin - crew member forgot"
  4. Save
  5. Remind crew member to clock out at end of shift

Check:

  1. Your current filters - export uses active filters
  2. If Status = "Active Now" and no one is clocked in, export will be empty
  3. Change filters to include the data you want
  4. Example: Status = All, Date = This Month
  5. Export again

Need More Help?

If you have questions about time clock management or need assistance, here are your options:

Last Updated: November 19, 2025 | Version: 1.0