Fix time tracking gaps by checking seven settings: geofencing radius, offline punches, rounding, verification, alerts, payroll export and device support.
Key takeaways
- Geofencing radius: The smallest radius you can set is 100 meters or 330 feet, as specified in Sling geofence settings.
- Rounding increment: When the nearest increment is set to 15 minutes, clocking in at 11:43 AM is recorded as 11:45 AM, according to Sling.
- Verification method: Staff clock in with facial verification or GPS location stamps, while managers access records in one place, according to Deputy.
- Payroll export: An automatic time card is created with total hours and breaks, which a manager can review and export to payroll, according to Deputy.
Configure your time clock to match your staffing site rules
Staffing managers must align digital time clock configurations with specific job site boundaries to prevent payroll errors. The first gap to address is the geofencing radius, which restricts where staff can punch in. Sling allows you to enable geofencing from your Time Clock settings if you are concerned about employees clocking in before they are on site and ready for their shift, according to Sling. This setting verifies location proximity rather than preventing all forms of buddy punching.
The second gap involves offline capability. Offline support differs by product: Deputy's iPad kiosk can run offline, while Connecteam's apps cannot. You must verify if your chosen tool supports offline punches for sites with poor connectivity. The third gap is the rounding increment. Rounding time to the nearest 15 minutes is a configuration choice for payroll simplicity. Check your payroll policy to determine the appropriate increment.
A filled reference table comparing publisher capabilities
The following table maps the seven tracked configuration gaps to the specific capabilities documented by each publisher. Use this reference to verify that your chosen tool covers each required area before finalizing your setup.
| Gap | Publisher | Documented Capability |
|---|---|---|
| Geofencing radius | Sling | The minimum you can set is 100 meters or 330 feet, according to Sling. |
| Offline capability | Deputy | The Deputy Kiosk app for iPad can run without an internet connection and save up to 24 hours of offline activity, according to Deputy. |
| Rounding increment | Sling | When the nearest increment is set to 15 minutes, clocking in at 11:43 AM would be recorded as 11:45 AM, and clocking out at 6:56 PM would be recorded as 7:00 PM, according to Sling. |
| Verification method | Deputy | Staff clock in with facial verification or GPS location stamps, while managers and payroll teams access attendance and timesheet records in one place, according to Deputy. |
| Automated alerts | Deputy | The time clock app will alert managers when breaks are missed altogether, according to Deputy. |
| Payroll export | Deputy | When an employee finishes their shift through the time clock app, an automatic time card is created with their total hours and breaks, which a manager can easily review and export to payroll, according to Deputy. |
| Device compatibility | When I Work | The platform allows you to turn any iPad, POS system, laptop, or mobile phone into a secure employee time clock, according to When I Work. |
Review this list against your current software to identify any missing features. For break rules that your alerts should follow, see Meal break rules in 4 states for shift handoffs.
Setting geofencing and location verification
Configure your geofencing radius to match the physical boundaries of your staffing site. In the Sling Help Center documentation, the minimum radius you can set is 100 meters or 330 feet, according to Sling. This setting defines the maximum distance from the work location where employees can access the time clock. The specific feature, labeled "GPS Within specified radius from the location's address," allows you to define this maximum radius, according to Sling. This setting restricts time clock access to the radius you configure.
Beyond GPS radius settings, Sling offers an alternative verification method based on network connectivity. The option "Connected to location Wi-Fi (IP address)" means that employees using a device on an approved network will be able to use the time clock, according to Sling. This method verifies location by confirming the device is connected to a specific IP address associated with your site. You can use Wi-Fi verification if your job sites have reliable local networks.
For sites requiring higher security or where staff move between different locations, Deputy provides facial verification or GPS location stamps. Staff clock in with facial verification or GPS location stamps, while managers and payroll teams access attendance and timesheet records in one place, according to Deputy. Facial verification is an identity-checking option, while GPS location stamps record where the punch happened. When setting up your time clock, decide whether a simple radius check, Wi-Fi verification, or facial recognition best fits your site's security needs and staffing volume.
Review your current geofencing settings to ensure the radius matches your job site boundaries and that your chosen verification method aligns with your staffing site rules.
Handling offline punches and connectivity gaps
Connectivity gaps at job sites create a specific risk for payroll accuracy. If your staff cannot reach the network, the punch may not be captured, so you need a fallback process to record and reconcile hours. The capability varies significantly between platforms, so you must verify how your chosen tool behaves when the internet drops.
Deputy offers a distinct advantage for iPad-based setups. The Deputy Kiosk app for iPad can run without an internet connection and save up to 24 hours of offline activity, according to Deputy. This allows staff to punch in and out even if the site Wi-Fi or cellular data fails for a full day. Plan to reconnect the device within that 24-hour limit.
Connecteam presents a different operational model. The Connecteam Mobile app, Kiosk app, and Desktop Time Clock do not support offline clock in or clock out, according to Connecteam. Employees need an active internet connection to clock in or out, and this includes NFC clocking inside the Connecteam product, according to Connecteam.
However, Connecteam does provide a mechanism for specific hardware. These devices can queue punches locally while offline and sync them once the connection returns, sending the original punch time so the timesheet reflects when the employee actually clocked, according to Connecteam. This distinction is critical: while the mobile and desktop apps require a live connection, certain hardware devices can hold the data locally. If you rely on the Connecteam Mobile app for your staffing team, you must ensure that every job site has reliable internet coverage. If a site has dead zones, the app will not capture the punch.
For staffing managers, the choice depends on your hardware strategy. If you issue iPads to site supervisors, Deputy's 24-hour offline buffer provides a safety net for temporary outages, according to Deputy. If you use Connecteam, you must confirm whether your specific devices support the local queuing feature. The Connecteam help center says "these devices" can queue punches. You should verify with your vendor which specific hardware supports offline queuing before deploying it to remote sites.
Configuring time rounding for payroll accuracy
Rounding rules determine how raw clock-in and clock-out times are adjusted before they reach your payroll export. For staffing teams managing hourly workers across multiple sites, the chosen increment directly affects the total hours recorded for each shift. You must select an increment that aligns with your internal payroll policy and labor compliance requirements, rather than assuming a single standard applies to all firms. Before you choose, read State overtime rules from 4 pages before the offer.
The Sling Help Center explains that rounding adjusts times to the nearest selected increment. When the nearest increment is set to 5 minutes, for example, clocking in at 11:03 AM would be recorded as 11:05 AM, and clocking out at 6:56 PM would be recorded as 6:55 PM, according to Sling. This 5-minute granularity captures smaller variations in arrival and departure times.
Alternatively, when the nearest increment is set to 15 minutes, for example, clocking in at 11:43 AM would be recorded as 11:45 AM, and clocking out at 6:56 PM would be recorded as 7:00 PM, according to Sling. A 15-minute increment moves recorded times in larger steps, so it may obscure minor discrepancies in shift start and end times. Staffing managers should review their specific payroll needs to decide whether 5-minute or 15-minute rounding better supports their accuracy goals.
Beyond manual rounding adjustments, some platforms automate the creation of payroll-ready documents. When an employee finishes their shift through the time clock app, an automatic time card is created with their total hours and breaks, which a manager can easily review and export to payroll, according to Deputy. This automated step reduces the manual effort required to compile shift data and ensures that total hours and breaks are captured in a single exportable record.
Deputy also offers a mechanism to verify compliance with workplace rules beyond simple time tracking. The platform can automatically request attestation if staff clock in late, work unscheduled time, miss breaks, leave early, or you need to verify compliance with other workplace rules, according to Deputy. This feature prompts employees to acknowledge specific deviations from their schedule, providing a documented trail for managers to review before finalizing payroll.
Worksheet for your time clock configuration audit
Use this worksheet to verify that your time clock settings align with your site's operational rules and payroll requirements. Copy its four columns into your own notes once for each of the seven gaps: geofencing radius, offline capability, rounding increment, verification method, automated alerts, payroll export and device compatibility. Compare your current setting against the required site rule, then mark the verification status.
| Gap | Current setting | Required site rule | Verification status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example | The setting your time clock shows today | The rule your site or payroll policy sets | Matches the rule, or needs a change |
If a setting does not match the required rule, adjust the time clock configuration before the next payroll cycle.
Illustrative example: auditing three sites
Suppose a manager checks 3 sites against the seven gaps. Site 1 has a 100-meter radius and 15-minute rounding, so an 11:43 AM clock-in is recorded as 11:45 AM. Site 2 has poor signal and no offline support, so the manager adds a fallback process to record and reconcile hours. Site 3 matches its rules on every gap, so the manager marks it as matching. These figures are illustrative only.
Your next step today
Open your time clock settings for one site and note the current radius, offline behavior and rounding increment. Compare each against that site's rules before the next payroll run.
FAQ
Can employees clock in without an internet connection?
Yes, the Deputy Kiosk app for iPad can run without an internet connection and save up to 24 hours of offline activity, according to Deputy. In contrast, the Connecteam Mobile app, Kiosk app, and Desktop Time Clock do not support offline clock in or clock out, according to Connecteam.
How does geofencing restrict where staff can punch in?
Sling defines a maximum radius from the work location in which employees can access the time clock, according to Sling. This setting allows you to define the specific geographic boundary for valid punches.
What happens to time punches when the nearest increment is set to 15 minutes?
When the nearest increment is set to 15 minutes, clocking in at 11:43 AM would be recorded as 11:45 AM, according to Sling. Similarly, clocking out at 6:56 PM would be recorded as 7:00 PM under this setting.
Does the time clock app work on an iPad without a network?
The Deputy Kiosk app for iPad can run without an internet connection, according to Deputy. However, the Connecteam Kiosk app does not support offline clock in or clock out, according to Connecteam.
How can managers verify if staff are actually on site?
Staff clock in with facial verification or GPS location stamps in Deputy, according to Deputy. Sling offers Wi-Fi verification where employees on an approved network can use the time clock, according to Sling.