# Introduction to Time Tracking

> Find where clocking, timesheets, time off, availability, and payroll live, and which of them your role can open.

Source: https://jobwisepro.com/help/time-tracking/introduction-to-time-tracking
Category: Time Tracking
Updated: 2026-10-22

Time tracking records the hours your crew works and gets approved time ready for payroll. It lives under **Time Tracking** in the sidebar, and that entry opens the [**Time Clock**](/go/time).

## Clock in and out on the Time Clock

The Time Clock starts and stops work with **Clock in** and **Clock out**. Each stretch of time is logged as work, a break, travel, or idle time. A stretch can be tied to a [job](/help/jobs/introduction-to-jobs), or to **General work (no job)**.

The job list loads only once the person is set up as an employee. While clocked in, the job can be changed, and the **Take a break**, **Travel**, **Idle / waiting**, and **Back to work** buttons switch what is being logged.

**Submit today's timesheet** appears once today is still open, nothing is running, and today has time logged. **Today's Activity** lists the stretches logged today once there are any.

Read [Clock in and out](/help/time-tracking/clock-in-and-out) for the full steps.

## Review timesheets

[**Timesheets**](/go/time/timesheets) shows one week at a time, with buttons to move to the previous and next week. Each timesheet shows a status: **Open**, **Submitted**, **Approved**, or **Locked**.

Users with full Time Tracking access see **Approve** on open and submitted timesheets, **Return** on submitted ones, and **Adjust** on approved or locked timesheets that have no adjustment yet.

Read [Review timesheets](/help/time-tracking/review-timesheets) for the review process.

## Request time off

**PTO** in the sidebar opens the [**Time Off**](/go/time/pto) page. The page shows **Your Balances** when there are balances, along with **Upcoming Holidays** and **Requests**.

Each request has one of four statuses: **Pending**, **Approved**, **Denied**, or **Cancelled**. Users with full Time Tracking access see **Approve** and **Deny** on a pending request.

A time-off policy is unlimited, accrues a balance for each hour worked, or grants a fixed amount on a set schedule. The **Request time off** button appears when the person is an active employee and at least one time-off policy applies to them.

Read [Request time off](/help/time-tracking/request-time-off) for the steps.

## Set your availability

The [**Availability**](/go/time/availability) page holds each person's weekly working windows, which scheduling uses. PTO day counts and the paid hours PTO earns in payroll are both worked out from those same windows. Roles that can see other people's records get an employee picker on the page.

Read [Set your availability](/help/time-tracking/set-your-availability) for how windows are set.

## Run payroll

[**Payroll**](/go/time/payroll) shows labor cost from approved time for the dates chosen. The page offers **Payroll CSV** and **QuickBooks CSV** downloads, in two different formats. Only roles with full Time Tracking access see **Payroll** in the sidebar, and both the page and its downloads require that access.

Read [Run payroll](/help/time-tracking/run-payroll) for the steps.

## Set pay rates and rules

The [**Time Tracking**](/go/settings/time) settings page covers pay rates, overtime, breaks, time off, and holidays. Only roles with full Settings access see that entry. Each employee record stores an hourly rate and whether the person is exempt from overtime.

Read [Time tracking settings](/help/time-tracking/time-tracking-settings) for what each setting changes.

## Who can open each part

Which parts a person can open depends on their role. Read [Roles and permissions](/help/team/roles-and-permissions) for what each role can do.

- **Admin** and **Manager** have full Time Tracking access, including **Payroll** and approvals.
- **Admin** is the only role with full Settings access by default.
- **Team Lead** and **Tech** see the **Time Tracking** entry, but only their own records.
- **Office Staff** and **Sales** have no Time Tracking access.

The **Time Tracking** entry does not appear when the module is not turned on, or when the role has no Time Tracking access. The entry can also show as locked. Opening a Time Tracking page then shows an upgrade prompt in place of its content.

Until a person is set up as an employee, the **Time Clock** has no clock controls. People with full Settings access see a **Set up employees** button there, which opens the **Time Tracking** settings page.