Time Clock

A time clock is a tool employees use to clock in and out, recording attendance and the start and end of shifts. Modern versions include apps, web kiosks, tablet check-ins, and, for field teams, GPS or geofenced punches.

How it works

  • Each punch marks a start or end time, building an attendance record.
  • Kiosks and shared devices suit shift and field teams; individual apps suit desk work.
  • Location or photo checks can confirm presence, but they add a monitoring layer some teams prefer to avoid.

Time clock vs project timesheet

A time clock answers "was this person present?", while a timesheet answers "what did they work on?". Trust-based project teams usually need the second more than the first.

How Sandtime.io fits

Sandtime.io focuses on project time - hours captured against work, reviewed and approved - rather than attendance surveillance, so records stay useful without eroding trust.

A time clock records attendance rather than project detail, is undermined by buddy punching, and complements the timer and timesheet used for project work.

Related Terms

Explore other time tracking and workforce management definitions.

Buddy Punching

When one employee clocks in or out on behalf of another who is absent or late, recording time that was not actually worked.

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Timer

The built-in stopwatch in Sandtime.io. Start it to begin tracking time, stop it to save the entry automatically to the current day in your timesheet.

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Timesheet

A record of hours worked by an employee over a specific period. Used for payroll, billing, and compliance.

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Time Tracking

The process of recording how employees spend their working hours. Enables payroll, billing, and productivity analysis.

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