Harvest
Time Tracking
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Printable Time Card

Harvest simplifies time tracking with its intuitive features, addressing the need for precise work hour documentation. While it excels in project-based tracking, it complements manual time card systems.

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How many hours did you work this week?

Enter your clock-in and clock-out times for each day. The calculator handles breaks, overtime, and weekly totals automatically.

Day Clock In Clock Out Break Hours
Total hours this week 0h
Regular hours (≤40) 0h
Overtime hours 0h
Average hours/day 0h
Total break time 0h

Track time automatically with Harvest

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

The Importance of Printable Time Cards

Printable time cards are essential tools for businesses and employees to accurately track work hours over specific pay periods. These documents play a critical role in payroll processing, compliance with labor laws, and project management. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers must retain payroll records for a minimum of three years, with time cards being essential for wage computations. Furthermore, the IRS requires that time records be kept for at least four years for federal tax purposes, ensuring that businesses have comprehensive documentation for audits and compliance.

Time cards must include specific information to be legally compliant, such as the employee's full name, social security number, hours worked each day, total hours worked each week, and the basis of wage payment. These records help prevent off-the-clock work issues and ensure that all hours, including overtime, are compensated appropriately. Interestingly, despite the rise of digital solutions, approximately 19% of companies still rely on manual or paper-based time tracking systems, highlighting the continued relevance of printable time cards.

Choosing the Right Printable Time Card Template

When selecting a printable time card template, businesses should consider their pay period and specific tracking needs. Templates are available for daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly reporting, allowing organizations to choose based on their payroll schedule. The FLSA does not mandate a specific timekeeping method, so businesses have the flexibility to use paper records as long as they are accurate and complete.

For compliance, time cards should be filled out daily, ideally capturing clock-in and clock-out times, along with any breaks. This practice helps prevent errors, which are common in manual systems, and enhances the accuracy of payroll. To streamline the process, some printable templates in spreadsheet formats can automate the calculation of regular and overtime hours. Ensuring both employee and supervisor sign-off on the completed time card is a best practice to verify its accuracy.

Best Practices for Using Printable Time Cards

To maximize the effectiveness of printable time cards, businesses should implement several best practices. First, encourage daily completion of time cards to ensure accuracy. Employees should record hours at the beginning and end of each work period, including any breaks. This reduces the likelihood of forgetting to log hours and minimizes time theft risks.

Organized storage is crucial, especially for compliance with retention laws. Employers should file time cards systematically, such as by employee name and month/year, to facilitate easy retrieval. Regular audits of time records help identify and correct any discrepancies promptly. Additionally, educating employees on the importance of accurate time tracking for payroll, client billing, and legal compliance can foster a culture of accountability and transparency.

Understanding Compliance and Recordkeeping Requirements

Compliance with labor laws and proper recordkeeping are paramount when using printable time cards. The FLSA mandates that payroll records be maintained for a minimum of three years, with time cards specifically retained for two years. This is essential for wage computations and adhering to federal guidelines. In states like California, recordkeeping requirements are even stricter, necessitating four years of payroll record retention and three years for time cards.

Employers must ensure that time cards include all required information, such as total hours worked and wage payment details. Accurate records are critical for defending against potential disputes or audits. Moreover, time rounding practices must be applied fairly, allowing rounding to the nearest quarter-hour as long as it does not consistently benefit the employer. By maintaining compliant and organized records, businesses can avoid legal pitfalls and ensure equitable employee compensation.

Explore Harvest Time Tracking

Harvest's time tracking feature supports project-based work, offering an intuitive solution that complements manual time card systems.

Screenshot of Harvest's time tracking feature showing project-based work setup

Printable Time Card FAQs

  • Printable time cards are typically available in several formats, including PDF, Word, and Excel. These formats are easily customizable and can be printed for manual use. Each format offers unique benefits: PDFs are widely accessible, Word documents allow for easy text editing, and Excel can automate calculations for work hours.

  • To customize a time card template, start by selecting the appropriate format, such as Word or Excel, which are easily editable. You can add your company logo, adjust the layout to fit your pay period (daily, weekly, bi-weekly), and include fields for employee details and work hours. Ensure the template captures all necessary information for compliance, like total hours and breaks.

  • Yes, printable time card templates are available for various pay periods, including daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly. This flexibility allows businesses to choose templates that align with their specific payroll schedules and tracking needs. Using the correct template helps ensure accurate and efficient payroll processing.

  • Printable time cards can be designed to track overtime and vacation hours by including specific fields for these categories. Ensure that your template has sections to record regular hours, overtime hours (over 40 in a week), and any vacation or leave taken. This helps maintain accurate records for payroll and compliance purposes.

  • Best practices for using time cards include daily completion to prevent forgetfulness and errors, organized storage for easy retrieval, and regular audits to identify discrepancies. Educating employees on the importance of accurate tracking and ensuring supervisor sign-off on entries can enhance accuracy and compliance with labor laws.

  • Harvest integrates seamlessly with Asana, allowing users to track time directly on tasks and projects. This integration helps teams synchronize their time tracking with project management efforts, providing a comprehensive view of time allocation and productivity across platforms.

  • Yes, Harvest allows users to track expenses alongside time tracking. You can capture receipts, categorize expenses, and integrate this data into project budgets, providing a complete financial overview. This feature helps manage project costs and supports accurate client billing and reporting.

  • Employees should fill out their timesheets daily to ensure accuracy and completeness. Recording hours at the start and end of each work period, including breaks, prevents errors and supports accurate payroll calculations. Daily completion also minimizes the risk of time theft and improves compliance with labor laws.

  • Common issues with paper time cards include errors from manual entry, risks of time theft, and the challenge of consolidating data for payroll. Despite these drawbacks, paper time cards remain popular due to their simplicity and low cost. Implementing best practices like daily completion and regular audits can mitigate these challenges.