Every moment counts. That’s especially true for time cards. The hours recorded on time cards eventually add up to cold, hard cash. Here’s everything you need to know about these timekeeping documents.

The Big Picture

• Time cards record working hours, and are traditionally used with employee time clocks.
• Time cards can serve as an important record for legal compliance, and help businesses run smoother.
• Time card records can be digitized for easy storage and payroll processing.

What is a time card?

A time card is a record of your working hours. Sometimes used interchangeably with “timesheet,” time cards are traditionally used with time clocks. A time card records your clock punches, or the times you started and stopped working.

While time cards are a type of timesheet, these terms are not completely synonymous. Timesheets aren’t necessarily used with time clocks; for example, a contractor may fill out a timesheet to demonstrate specific time spent on tasks. However, a time card can provide the data needed to fill out a timesheet.

Types of Time cards

The type of time card you need is determined by your time clock type.

• Punch Cards. These old-school time cards are paper sheets that are inserted into a traditional punch clock, which stamps your start or end time directly onto the card.
• Swipe Cards. These new-school time cards are used with electronic time clocks and may double as an employee ID badge. You’ll slide the card through the machine, which records your time.
• Online Cards. These fully digital time cards are accessed via the internet and use cloud data storage. You’ll use an online portal to record your punches, which are recorded digitally.
• Mobile Cards. This subtype of online time cards can be accessed via a mobile device for time tracking on the go.

You may also be asked to fill out a “paper time card,” or a timesheet. These timesheets don’t use a clock, and are filled out manually by hand with pen and paper.

Are time cards right for your business?

Time cards are a good option for businesses with a staff that’s paid on an hourly basis. They’re also good for any workplace that wants to use a time clock to boost productivity, forecast labor resources, and monitor project progress. They’re also a way to stay legally compliant. It’s best practice to maintain timesheets if you’re running a business in the United States. That’s because you’re required by federal law to keep records of hours worked (and to maintain those records for a minimum of 3 years). While some employees are exempt from these requirements, they apply to almost all hourly workers.

The Benefits of Time Cards

Whether your time cards are traditional paper or stored in the cloud, they can help run a better business.

• Boosted Productivity. Time cards are a way for employees to keep an eye on the clock and make sure they’re using the most of their hours.
• Punctual Attendance. Time cards encourage workers to start and end on time and as scheduled since punches punctuate their shifts.
• Labor Analysis. Time cards provide a valuable labor record that can be used to create effective schedules and prevent understaffing.
• Legal Compliance. Maintaining time card records will keep your business covered in the event of litigation or an audit.
• Payroll and Invoicing. The most practical benefit of time cards: they make it easy to pay workers and bill clients on an hourly basis.

While paper time cards can be a hassle to collect and correct, modern time clock technology digitizes time cards, making them more accessible than ever.

How to Set Up Time Cards with OnTheClock

With OnTheClock, you can set up your time cards in just a few minutes by configuring your online time clock.

Initial Setup

You can configure your time cards via an internet browser or our free mobile app. Regardless of your preferred platform, you only need to do this once.

On a Browser

Step 1: Create your free OnTheClock account.

Step 2: Navigate to “Settings,” then “Time Clock Settings.”

Step 3: Set your time zone, as well as your pay period type and start date.

On Mobile

Step 1: Download the free OnTheClock app for Android or iOS.

Step 2: Create your free account.

Step 3: Launch the app and tap on the gear icon to open settings.

Step 4: Tap on “Account Settings.”

Step 5: Set your time zone, as well as your pay period type and start date.

That’s it!

Now you’re ready to invite your employees and start tracking time. After the initial setup, you can customize your overtime and PTO settings to meet your unique business needs. When it’s time for payday, you can choose who reviews your time cards before sending your time cards to payroll providers.