This screen allows the currently logged in employee to record start times (Punch In) and end times (Punch Out) for an attendance record. An employee can punch in and out as many times as required during the day to accurately record the time spent actually working in the office. As an example, the employee should punch out at the start of their lunch hour and punch back in after lunch is over. Short breaks where employee is assumed to still be working do not need to be recorded (i.e. no punch out is required).

Navigate to this screen by clicking Time > Attendance > Punch In / Punch Out. Details of the fields on this screen is explained below

  • Punched In Time: This will show the time the employee logged in (in a case where the employee is already punched in)
  • Date: This will be the current date
  • Time: This is the punch in / out time depending on whether the employee is currently punch in or punched out. The field is automatically populated with the current time but it is possible to change the time if the configuration settings allow.  Note: When punching in / out from the portal, the time used will be the one set by the location timezone (See locations for details) However, when punching in/out from a mobile or biometric device, the time used will be the one for device (subject to tamper checks)
  • Note: Any related notes
  • Punch In / Punch Out button: Depending on whether the employee is currently punch in or punched out, you will see a Punch In or Punch Out button, click on it to complete the process.
Location Capturing

When the “Require Location” setting (See Configuration under the Attendance section) is set to “Yes”, the system will capture the user’s location as part of the Punch In or Punch Out process which could prove quite useful for organisations where employees regularly work in the field.

The user’s location will be most accurate when they login from a mobile device with GPS capability such as IPhone, Android, Windows or Blackberry phones. Obtaining the user’s location through GPS is the preferred method but when mobile devices without GPS are used (or GPS is unavailable), “Cell tower triangulation” is used instead (determining the location using mobile cell towers), this is less accurate than GPS but accurate enough to provide the required information. Finally if neither GPS nor Cell tower triangulation is available, the system attempts to determine the user’s location through the device’s IP address, this is the least accurate method and will only be used as a last resort.

Note: Permission is required from the user before location can be obtained and if this permission is denied or the system is unable to obtain the user’s location for another reason while “Require Location” setting is set to “Yes”, the user will be unable to Punch In or Punch Out.

Automatic Punch In / Punch Out

If the employee punched in on a date prior to the current day (i.e. working hours straddle 2 different days such as a night worker) then the system automatically logs the employee out at 11:59 PM and log them back in at 12:01 AM.