What are Time logs?
Time logs in Zoho People refer to records of the time spent by employees on various tasks or projects within an organization. These records can include details such as the date, duration, and description of the work performed.
What are Timesheets?
Time logs collated together are known as Timesheets. These sheets can capture details such as total hours, breaks taken, billable hours, etc.
What are Jobs?
A job is a task that is assigned to an employee. Jobs can be associated with Projects. Employees can also add jobs that they perform.
What are Projects?
Projects are assignments that employees work on.
What are Clients?
Clients are customers for whom Jobs are done. Projects are associated with Clients and Jobs are done on Projects for Clients.
What are Work Items?
A work Item is an activity or a subtask relating to a particular Job.
Configuring Time Logs Settings
To configure Time Logs settings, navigate to Settings > Timesheet > Configuration > Time Log (only visible to Administrators)
Let us take a closer look at the settings available to be configured here:
Time logging methods
Time can be logged by:
Select the allowed methods for logging time. Methods that are not selected will not be allowed while logging time. For example, if entering the total hours is not selected, then the option to select and enter the total hours will not be available for the employee.
Restrictions
Do not allow time logs for: If any time logs match the options selected here, those time logs will not be allowed to be submitted, and an error will be shown to the employee trying to submit them. For example, if weekends are selected and an employee attempts to submit a time log for a Sunday, it will be restricted.
Time entry overlap is: When employees work on more than one job, there may be situations where some time logs share the same time entries. Define if such time logs should be allowed, with a warning if needed, or stopped from being submitted.
Limit maximum billable log hours: Select this option if you do not want your employees to log more than a specific number of hours per day or per week. Furthermore, use Allow overtime if you want to specify the limit of hours spent beyond work hours under overtime hours and hours that further exceed overtime hours as extended overtime hours. Include weekends and holidays as overtime, if required.
Limit time logs within estimated hours: Let's say the estimated hours set for a job is 10 hours. Any time log that exceeds 10 hours will not be allowed for submission.
Limit time logs within 24 hours: A limit of 24 hours is enforced for submitted time logs.
Limit time logs within attendance hours: Let's say an employee has clocked in 8 hours for the day. Any time logs that exceed 8 hours will not be allowed for submission.
Restrict time logs with no duration: Ensure time logs submitted have a valid duration.
Restrict time log entries if:
Time log date is not within the job's start date and end date: This first option disallows a time log from being submitted if the date selected for the time log does not fall within the start and end time of the job.
The present date is not within the job's start date and end date: This second option blocks a time log if the present date does not fall between the start and end date of a job.
It is important to note that when either the job's start or end dates are not defined, the behavior of this feature will vary.
When jobs have only start date defined:
If the first option is checked, then the employees can only log time if the time log date is on or after the start date of the job.
If the second option is checked, then the employees can only log time if the present date is on or after the start date of the job.
When jobs have only end date defined:
If the first option is checked, then the employees can only log time if the time log date is on or before the end date of the job.
If the second option is checked, then the employees can only log time if the present date is on or before the end date of the job.
When jobs do not have both start and end date defined, both the first and second option will have no impact.
Permissions
Timer logs can be edited or deleted by: All time logs can be edited by administrators. In addition, you can give reporting managers access to edit or delete their reportees' timer logs. By selecting employee (for self), you are allowing employees to edit and delete their own timer logs.
Time log fields
Here you can choose to display or make certain fields mandatory. Additionally, some field names can also be edited by clicking on the pencil icon.
Preferences
Default billing status: When an employee is logging time for a job, the selected option here will be prefilled for them. However, they can change this selection.
Default time log and reports display: For example, if the week view is selected here, the month will become the default list view for time logs, and the same will be selected in the filter too.
Track time log location: If you want to ensure that your employees are logging time from certain permitted locations, this option will capture their location details and display them in the list view.
Default work items
Use this space to add default work items that employees can select when logging time. Employees will also be able to select job-specific work items if available or enter their own work items when submitting time logs.