What’s an Employee Timesheet?

person filling out a weekly time sheet

A timesheet is a record of the number of hours an employee worked. It tracks when your team member started and ended work for the day and any breaks they took.

You can record your workers’ time by paper, spreadsheet, or online software. Using software, like Workful, can be beneficial because your staff will be able to easily clock in and out, check their timesheet, and request adjustments. Payroll will sync automatically with your staff’s timesheets, making your job easier. Learn more about how Workful can help you save time.

3 reasons to use employee timesheets

1. Run accurate payroll

If you pay your team hourly, timesheets are essential for running payroll. Without them, you wouldn’t know how much time your employees worked or how much to pay them.  

2. Stick to deadlines

Even if you don’t pay your staff hourly, timesheets can still help your company stick to its deadlines. You can make sure your staff is working when they’re supposed to. It’s vital to make sure your team is at work and doing their job, so you can get everything done on time.

3. Identify attendance problems

Timesheets can help you identify any attendance problems in your company, like whether an employee is always coming in late or leaving early. You’ll also be able to track how much overtime everyone is working to ensure it’s necessary.

After you’ve identified an attendance (or overtime) problem, you can talk to the employee to find out what’s causing the problem and start brainstorming ways to rectify the situation.

If a worker is always starting late or leaving early, it could be a symptom of a bigger problem – like not being engaged or motivated at work. If that’s the case, then try to find a new way to engage them, like assigning them a project they’re excited about. It could also mean, however, that they just can’t get to work on time because they’re waiting with their child for the school bus. When that happens, consider offering your employee a more flexible schedule so they can still be there for their family.

If you notice someone working a lot of overtime, talk to them about why it’s happening. It could be that they have trouble managing their time. In that case, help them develop a plan to improve their time management. It could also mean, however, that they are overwhelmed and have too much to do. When that happens, find out if another member of your team is willing and able to take some of the workload. If no one can help, consider whether it’s time to hire another worker.

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