Looking for a usable, free construction timesheet template? We’ve got you covered.
Construction timesheets are relied upon by contractors to track the number of hours workers spend on a construction site. The information collected in a construction timesheet is useful in a variety of cases, like billing, insurance claims, evacuation efforts, and so much more.
In this article, we cover all the different construction timesheets used in the field and offer up free construction timesheet templates for you to download and use. Plus, we give our suggestion for the best construction timesheet technology to help with automating the production of accurate timesheets. Whether you want to do thing manually, or adopt technology to help with the process, we have the answers for you below.
Table of Contents (click to jump to each section)
1) What is a Construction Timesheet?
2) General Construction Timesheet Templates
– Daily Timesheet Template
– Weekly Timesheet Template
– Weekly Timesheet Template (+ OT)
– Weekly Timesheet Template (+ OT & Breaks)
3) Project-Specific Construction Timesheet Templates
– Daily Project Timesheet Template
– Weekly Project Timesheet Template
4) Daily Construction Report Template (Daily Log for Construction)
5) The Benefits of Using Construction Timesheets
6) The Challenges of Manual Timesheet Tracking
7) Recommended Technology Solution for Construction Timesheets
– Active Interaction Technology
– Passive Interaction Technology
The Top Automated Timesheet Solution for Construction
What is a Construction Timesheet?
A construction timesheet tracks/logs the amount of time an employee or contractor spends on-the-job.
Construction timesheets can be company- or project-based timekeeping records and involve a variety of inputs. In some cases, regulatory requirements (like New York’s Wage Theft Prevention Act or Certified Payroll requirements) will impact how critical accurate timekeeping becomes for construction firms. An accurate timesheet means less massaging of data and less manual intervention when trying to solve who was where and when.
Why do you need a timesheet in construction?
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Timesheets / historical logs for workers’ compensations claims and investigations
- 67% of construction professionals in a recent AXA XL study say that historical timesheets and logs are critical when it comes to investigating insurance claims (view the study)
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Certified payroll jobs
- Construction firms must have accurate timesheets for government/public construction contractors and use Form WH-347 to submit information
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Regulatory requirements
- Certain cities, states, or counties might have specific rules around tracking labor on construction sites, like New York’s Wage Theft Prevention Act.
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Payroll administration
- Simply put, you need accurate information to pay workers the correct amount for the time they spent on-site.
No matter the reason, every construction firm tracks timesheets one way or another. With the introduction of technology, there are more sophisticated ways to gather accurate manpower logs or timesheets from the field. We explore both manual and automated ways of ensuring accurate construction timesheets are produced and maintained.
General Construction Timesheet Templates
General timesheet templates are built to provide insights and details into worker activity either on a daily or weekly timeframe. A general template will account for time spent on the job along with the activities performed on-the-job.
Below are the various general timesheet templates you may need to use in construction:
Daily Construction Timesheet Template
A daily timesheet adds color to an individual worker’s daily activity. This template is used for tracking tasks throughout the day and will calculate the pay for workers who obtain an hourly wage.
Download the Daily Timesheet Template(s) – Click to Download:
Weekly Construction Timesheet Template
A weekly construction timesheet template will allow you to gather simple shift-related information like date, time on-site, as well as added notes for information related to site activity/tasks.
Download the Weekly Timesheet Template(s) – Click to Download:
Weekly Construction Timesheet Template (+OT)
If your workforce logs overtime (OT) hours, this timesheet template will be useful as it provides added fields for regular hours logged, OT hours logged, and double time (DT) hours worked.
Like the standard weekly timesheet, this allows you to gather simple shift-related information like date, time on-site, as well as added notes for information related to site activity/tasks.
Download the Weekly Timesheet Template(s) + Overtime – Click to Download:
Weekly Construction Timesheet Template (+OT & Breaks)
If you don’t pay for coffee/smoke/meal breaks, then it’s best to log that information daily to ensure proper manpower attribution. This timesheet accounts for both OT and break schedules during a workday.
Like the standard weekly timesheet, this allows you to gather simple shift-related information like date, time on-site, as well as added notes for information related to site activity/tasks.
Download the Weekly Timesheet Template(s) + Overtime & Breaks – Click to Download:
Project-Specific Construction Timesheet Templates
Project-specific timesheet templates are built to provide insights and details into worker activity on a construction project either in a daily or weekly timeframe. A project-specific template will account for time spent on various jobs and the cost codes associated with the activities performed on-the-job.
Below are the various project-specific construction timesheet templates you may need:
Daily Project Timesheet Template
This daily timesheet differs from the general daily timesheet in the section above as it is focused on the hours logged on a specific project or numerous jobs. This timesheet incorporates added elements like project names and cost codes.
Using a sheet like this helps your team measure actual labor costs and time on-site vs. what was budgeted for the project. Better forecasting starts with understanding how your current projects operate day-to-day.
Download the Daily Project Timesheet Template(s) – Click to Download:
Weekly Project Timesheet Template
This weekly timesheet differs from the general weekly timesheet in the section above as it is focused on the hours logged on a specific project or numerous jobs. This timesheet incorporates added elements like project names and cost codes.
A daily timesheet will log information in greater detail as it pertains to daily activity. A firm should use a weekly construction project timesheet if they are less concerned about exact times on-site (start time/end time) and instead, just want a refence for total weekly hours logged.
Download the Weekly Project Timesheet Template(s) – Click to Download:
Daily Construction Report Template (Daily Log for Construction)
A construction daily report is a detailed log of activity on a construction site, within a workday. The daily report includes a variety of information pertaining to site conditions, hazards, and workforce details; like which subcontractors and their workers were active on the site during that workday.
The reports are built to be a standardized method for “journaling” or “logging” activities in a way that can track progress and/or predict future efforts. The inclusion of certain sections of the report is up to each contractor, but a typical construction daily report will display the following:
- Project Details
- Project Progress
- Weather Conditions
- Crew/Visitor Time & Attendance
- Equipment Tracking
- Material Tracking
- Delivery Details
- Safety Details
- Additional Notes & Comments
For more on the daily construction report, a downloadable template, and recommended technology (Procore) for logging daily construction activity, view the article below.
>>> Construction Daily Report Template: Reporting Made Easy
The Benefits of Using a Construction Timesheet Template
Having detailed, organized construction timesheets will certainly save you time and money in the long-term. Having dedicated personnel that manage timesheets and other administrative tasks are an additional measure that companies can/should take to ensure accurate reporting.
On top of the obvious benefits that accurate reports bring, here are some of the key advantages of using construction timesheets:
- Simplifying Payroll Management: Payroll can be in the form of workers and/or subcontractors. Either way, it’s important to know how many hours people on your payroll are spending on the jobsite. A standardized way of reporting construction timesheets makes the payroll process much easier on the individuals who manage your books.
- Automating Regulatory Compliance: You might be legally required to maintain an attendance sheet or manpower log. If so, having processes for tracking timesheets accurately will assist immensely with your regulatory requirements. For example, all public sector construction jobs in the United States are required to maintain certified payroll reports, which are essentially construction activity logs/timesheets.
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More Accurate Projections & Project Forecasting: If you know how long a subcontractor or workers spends on the job on one project, then you’ll have a good idea of the time required for the next one. The more attendance and time-related information you gather from site(s), the better your forecasting efforts become for future builds.
- Insurance Claims Investigation & Legal / Litigation Defense: Ouch, a worker was hurt and claims to be injured on the job. Can you confirm they were on site? Often timesheets and attendance logs come in handy for workers’ compensation disputes or legal action. It’s important to know who was on the site in order to identify witnesses, safety staff who may have been involved, supervisors, etc. . Use your attendance logs and construction timesheets as evidence as you investigate any incident.
The Challenges of Manual Timesheet Tracking
Most of the challenges faced when tracking time and attendance information on-site come from manual tracking and human error. Manual tracking isn’t bad, it just leaves more room for error and potentially requires greater effort from your payroll administration teams.
The main reasons why manual time and attendance systems are unreliable:
1) Time Theft: When workers are required to mark their own attendance on a jobsite, there are ways around providing accurate time entries. Some workers will inevitably find their way around data entry to ensure their pockets are padded. Even if all timesheet information is audited, the audit process can miss invalid entries and can take a significant amount of time to sort out.
2) Risk of Human Error: Any manual process allows for human error. If a trusted resource is manually recording time and attendance information, there is still a chance that the individual will make a mistake.
3) Time Consumption: There is a lot of overhead involved with any manual process, and, in this case, there would be a significant amount of time spent on data review to clean-up an entry before payroll starts.
4) Outdated Processes: It is 2022, there are simply more efficient ways to record time and attendance information that do not break the bank and offer construction firms instantaneous ROI.
5) Storage of Historical Data: Want to reference time and attendance information from 2 years ago on a specific day? You will be surprised how often you may need older time and attendance data. Whether it be dealing with a legal matter or just referencing past project workforce data to forecast upcoming work; you will eventually benefit from having historical data at your disposal.
Manual methods are easier to implement and, in many cases, cheaper at face value. But, if you dig into the economics behind reliable time and attendance data, you will understand that there is ROI to be had from investing in an automated system.
When you rely on time and attendance data for payroll, regulatory compliance, or any other processes that require accurate information, you should be considering a comprehensive system that automates much (or all) of the data entry process.
>>> Suggested Article: 5 Types of Time & Attendance Systems Used in Construction
Recommended Technology Solution for Construction Timesheets
A construction timesheet template is helpful when manually tracking time and attendance information on-site. But, technology can help automate the process and generate detailed timesheets into pre-formatted templates.
There are two different ways that construction timesheets can be populated using technology: an active interaction technology, and passive interaction technology.
1) Active Interaction: This means a worker must physically interact with technology to clock in/out of the jobsite. Think of access control devices, mobile apps to check in, or other technology that involves the worker taking action to initiate their start time.
For active interaction, we recommend access control solutions that allow workers to check-in and out from site through entry/exit points.
Main Benefits of Active Interaction Technology to Generate Timesheets:
– Only authorized workers are logging hours
– Designated entry/exit points allow for reliable data
– Can be set-up anywhere
– Does not rely on worker’s personal smartphone
– Highly customizable for every site’s specific needs
– Does not track worker location
The added benefits of active interaction time and attendance technology is that it pairs seamlessly with access control. On top of logging accurate manpower information, your site(s) can control who log hours on-site by granting/denying access to specific individuals.
2) Passive Interaction: This means a worker doesn’t need to interact with the technology and the workers activity and time is logged without their active participation. Think geofencing, location tracking, and proximity monitoring to generate timesheets in relation to a worker’s time on site.
(Image Source: AllGeo)
Main Benefits of Passive Interaction Technology to Generate Timesheets:
– Very accurate depiction of worker activity
– Doesn’t rely on specific entry/exit points
– Can be set-up anywhere
– Highly customizable for every site’s specific needs
– Does not rely on a gated or fenced site perimeter
– Does not rely on workers to remember checking in/out
What is myComply?
myComply is construction’s top time and attendance solution. Automatically populate construction timesheets daily, weekly, or over any period. Additionally, the software provides deep historical workforce data and attendance information.
myComply’s technology is flexible and offers a variety of ways to track manpower (both active and passive interaction). Using the myComply Smart Badge on a site means all workers’ who access the site have verifiable training information and are logging accurate time in your logbook.
Ask us how it works! We’re happy to explain how we can outfit your site(s) with myComply’s innovative time and attendance solution for construction. Explain your site, the layout, and your requirements – we’ll tailor a solution to your site that makes sense.
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