How to Track Employees Hours? Best Way to Make it Simple

Tracking time for your employees and business projects is crucial to smooth operations. Also, it leads to accuracy during the payroll process, correct invoicing, and increased business productivity.

There are various methods (traditional and digital) to track working time. However, in this digital dominant time, it’s better to use time-tracking software. It ensures accuracy, fast processing, and productivity. So a proper time-tracking solution is a necessary ingredient for overall business success.

In this blog, we will explain both methods. We will explore every piece of information that is helpful for you to uncover the right solution on how to track employee hours.

Why Is It Difficult to Track Employee Hours?

Tracking employee hours is not a five-finger exercise. It’s quite a challenging task, and companies can face many difficulties.

However, this also varies according to the method you choose. For instance, when a company follows a manual approach based on pen and paper, it is more prone to errors and time-consuming.

When an employee is working from a different zone in a remote job, it becomes a challenging concept for the company to manage and track time.

Swiping of cards among employees is a common practice to clock in and out. This is called buddy punching. Employers find it difficult to identify due to lack of security measures.

How to Track Employees Hours?

Tracking employees hours can be done through traditional methods and online processes. Some methods to track employee hours are as follows –

Manual Time Tracking

It’s a pen and paper-oriented strategy and a 100% manual process. A company can maintain a register. Manual time tracking is a good option for startups. However, it is prone to errors because of the manual concept.

Manual TimeSheets

This is not based on a pen-and-paper concept but still, it is said to be manual. A user can make entries in Google Sheets or MS Excel. This method is quite ideal for small business owners. The in-built formulas help to calculate entries automatically with accurate outcomes. Thus, the chances of errors are quite minimal.

GPS Clock-In

This method is quite ideal for those companies whose work nature is field-based. If employees travel frequently during their job time then GPS Clock-in is the best option. Also, it easily integrates with payroll.

Time Clocks

A company can install a time clock where employees need to punch in time and punch out time. This method is quite suitable for manufacturing units.

Time Tracking Software

There are several time-tracking software available on the market. A user can use this software to automate their whole process. These software are available for desktop and mobile devices in the form of applications. Using them, companies can boost their productivity.

Top Time Tracking Applications to Track Employees’ Hours

There are several applications to simplify the time-tracking process. These applications offer various advanced features to keep an accurate track of actions. Let’s have a look below –

1. Time Tracker for Basecamp (Basecamp Extension)

A user-friendly extension that commits to offering a simple solution to tracking time. Business professionals can effortlessly link their Basecamp projects with Moon HRM and Moon Invoice. The time tracker for Basecamp is helpful to track the progress of each sprint and to do.

Also it is very easy to link it. A user needs to enter the credentials of his Moon HRM or Moon Invoice and Basecamp projects will be linked. It’s a very simple yet effective extension.

Key Highlights –

Estimate and Hours Management

With this Basecamp extension, a user can easily set the start and end date for the sprint and add estimated hours to the to-dos of sprints. He can have an inspection of the total hours invested in each sprint. Modification of the spent time is also possible.

Project Linking

Project linking to Moon Invoice and Moon HRM is quite easy. Additionally, users can generate new projects and then link the same to Moon HRM or Moon Invoice. Synchronizing to-dos with Moon HRM.

Synchronized with Moon HRM

Professionals can link the Basecamp project to Moon HRM and additionally add reports of projects and to-dos. It’s quite easy to sync. They can add time logs and acquire timesheets.

Filter Options

Professionals can easily sort the project through different filters. This platform enables users to sort out by –

• Status-wise to-dos and sprints
• Assignee-wise to dos and sprints
• Overdue as of the date of todo title
• Group by to-dos and sprints

Other Additional Features

• Card table view
• Expand and collapse the group
• Time logs
• Management of timesheet
• Summary of work load
• Time management
• Sync Todos with the application

Available on –

Chrome Web Store
Safari Extensions

Price –

Free

2. Jibble

This is another time clock software to help you in your time-tracking work. A user can have deep information on time tracking. It’s possible to track the time anytime from anywhere in the world.

Jibble supports automation and commits to offering accuracy while calculating the total hours, breaks, and overtime automatically. It enables users to generate daily, weekly, and monthly reports.

Key Highlights –

• Integration with other project management software
• Facial recognition
• GPS tracking
• Payroll hours tracker
• RFID attendance
• Online kiosk

Available on –

• Google Play store
• App store

Price –

Free

3. TimeCamp

TimeCamp is another time-tracking application that offers attendance monitoring, project management, and billing. Users can start and stop the time as per the need. A user can copy and paste the timesheets and create recurring time entries.

Key Highlights –

• Payroll system
• Invoicing and budgeting
• Custom billing rates
• Employees attendance tracking

Available on –

• Google Play Store
• App Store

Price –

• Starter plan – $1.49 annually
• Premium plan – $2.99 annually
• Unlimited plan – $3.99 annually
• Enterprise plan – $11.99 annually

4. Timely

Timely is a well-known and best employee time-tracking app that works in different ways. It captures every activity and then stores it in a memory tracker. After that, it merges all entries and suggests time entries.

Users don’t need to handle any manual tasks, as the software is equipped with advanced automation features. It automatically adds project tags for you. Also, it is possible to fill in the type of activities related to any project.

Key Highlights –

• User friendly interface
• Automatic work tracking
• Automated timesheets
• Easy monitoring of project progress
• Report generation
• Integration with popular software like Trello, Xero, Asana, and Google Calendar

Available on –

• Google Play store
• App Store

Price –

• Starter – $9
• Premium – $16
• Unlimited – $22
• Enterprise – contact to sales

5. TogglTrack

When you think about how to keep track of employee hours, TogglTrack is a good answer. This is another time-tracking software, offering a good user-friendly interface. A user can easily click in and resume work from what was left. It is possible to track time automatically. TogglTrack offers features for project budgeting, payroll, and reporting.

It has built-in 100+ integration features to integrate with various other applications. It enables companies to track and oversee all employee activities efficiently. However, it does not support the invoicing ability.

Key Highlights –

• Project planning
• Automatically round time entries
• Weekly and monthly reports
• Automated time tracking
• Screening of candidate

Available on –

Web app for the Mac and Windows

Price –

• Free plan – Free
• Starter – $9
• Best value – $18
• Enterprise – contact to sale

6. ConnectTeam

ConnectTeam helps you to manage accurate timesheets with complete ease. Its intuitive interface improves user navigation and ease of use. Moreover, its scope lies in GPS tracking, automated timesheets, and payroll integration. A user can set up a digital geofence time clock.

Key Highlights –

• Real time location tracking
• Automated timesheets
• Payroll integration
• Time off management

Available on –

• App Store
• Google Play Store

Price –

• Operation Expert – $199 per month
• Operation advanced – $59 per month
• Operation basic – $35 per month
• Small business plan – $0

What Are the Merits of Tracking Employee Hours?

Time tracking of employees is crucial for corporate businesses. The following benefits are there when employers follow a time-tracking concept.

Boost Productivity

Tracking employees’ working hours helps to boost productivity efficiently. There can be proper insight into how employees are allocating their tasks and time. Business professionals can successfully prioritize their important tasks and reduce time-wasting tasks.

Better Project Management

Project managers can easily find bottlenecks. They can also allocate tasks efficiently and monitor the status of the project simply. Moreover, they better cope with the challenges involved in the project.

Helpful in Decision

Business professionals or project managers can make the right decision with the proper data of time spent. This is beneficial for the business as they can do the right justification based on proper data analysis.

Manage Overtime

If employees are very busy and get stuck with work, it is easy to notify them. This is only possible when you track time. Also, you have a proper record of overtime.

Enhance Client Communication

A detailed and systematic breakdown of time helps establish clear communication between the team and the client. Chances of availing praise from the client are high when there is clarity over the time spent.

Employee Time Tracking Tips

Before tracking time, employers and employees must follow the below tips:

• Always use an automatic employee hours tracker
• Track non-billable hours for the activity like researching and meeting
• Never group too many tasks into the same time entries
• Always use a timer in place of a manual timer when adding to timesheets
• Follow real-time tracking to avoid confusion and inaccuracy
• Integrate time-tracking software into the payroll system for accurate wage
• Organizations can provide training to their employees on using the time-tracking system

Conclusion

We hope how to track employees’ hours is no longer a big question for you. Tracking time is crucial for a company and its employees. It contributes a lot to keeping the business on the right track. Keep in mind, the best time-tracking software is always like a right hand for business professionals. So choose your software wisely.

Frequently Asked Questions