Time Tracking & Punch Clock

With time tracking in Pulse, you can capture working time quickly and reliably via the punch clock. Based on your punch events, Pulse automatically creates a time tracking entry. This page explains the basics, permissions, and common use cases step by step.

---

Introduction: What is time tracking in Pulse?

Pulse provides integrated time tracking based on punch events.

• Punch events are the actions you trigger via the punch clock: Start, Stop, Break start, Break stop.
• From these events, Pulse automatically generates time trackings with start/end time and breaks.

Benefits:

• Automatic creation of time tracking entries when you clock out (Stop)
• Transparent history of all punch events
• Corrections to time trackings possible afterwards (e.g., missed breaks)

Note

Time trackings are generated automatically as soon as you Stop via the punch clock. The basis is always the prior punch events. Punch events themselves are immutable and can only be deleted.

---

Rights & Roles

To use the punch clock, the appropriate role must be assigned.

1. Go to Account Settings → Organization → Roles.
2. Click “Import role” and select the role “Punch Clock Worker”.
3. Then go to Account Settings → Users and assign the role “Punch Clock Worker” to the intended user.

Tip

Without the “Punch Clock Worker” role, the punch clock is not visible and no punch events can be created.

Note

Permissions in Pulse are controlled via roles. With “Punch Clock Worker” you can punch your own time. Whether you may also edit time trackings or see entries of others depends on your assigned roles/permissions and can be configured by your admins via the account settings.

Permissions in detail

• Right “Punch Clock Events”: Adjustable in Account Settings (within roles) to control permissions to view or delete punch clock events in this account. This right maps to the “Punch Events” tab on the Time Tracking page.
• Right “Time Tracking”: Adjustable in Account Settings (within roles) to manage permissions around time trackings in this account (e.g., View, Update, Delete – depending on your role configuration). This right maps to the “Time Trackings” tab on the Time Tracking page.

---

Use the punch clock (Start, Stop, Breaks)

Once the “Punch Clock Worker” role is assigned to you, the punch clock appears at the top of the page, in the header — to the left of your avatar.

• Start (clock in): To begin your working time.
• Break start: To start a break.
• Break stop: To end a break.
• Stop (clock out): To end your working time.

To the right of the punch clock, you can see the running working time and — if active — the running break time.

Caution

Don’t forget to start and stop breaks so that break times are recorded correctly. Missing breaks can be corrected later with the appropriate permissions.

---

Overview: Time Trackings & Punch Events

Use the left navigation bar and click the button with the clock icon to reach the time tracking overview. You’ll find two tabs there:

Tab: Time Trackings

This tab lists all time tracking entries that result from punch events.

• Use the three‑dot menu on the right of an entry to:
  • Adjust start and end time
  • Add, adjust, or remove breaks
  • Delete the entire time tracking
• Time trackings based on punch events are created automatically as soon as you click Stop on the punch clock.

Note

Editing/deleting time trackings requires the corresponding permissions. Depending on your role configuration, functions may be hidden or read‑only.

Tab: Punch Events

This tab lists all punch operations (Start, Stop, Break start/stop). Pulse generates time trackings from these events.

• Punch events cannot be edited, only deleted.
• They are the basis for the generated time trackings.

Note

Viewing or deleting punch events in the “Punch Events” tab depends on the “Punch Clock Events” right.

Note

If you delete a punch event, it can affect the related time tracking. Verify afterwards that the resulting time tracking is still correct.

---

Confirm Time Trackings

With the appropriate right, time trackings can be confirmed in the list, via the actions in the three‑dot menu on the right. Confirmed time trackings are locked for further editing and can only be edited or deleted again if the confirmation is removed.

---

Employee Profile: Time Trackings & Punch Events

In addition to the global overview, you’ll also find time trackings and punch events directly in an employee’s profile.

These tables work exactly like the tabs in the Time Tracking page — but are scoped to the selected profile user:

• Time Trackings: Displays all tracking entries of that user, with the same options to adjust start/end times, manage breaks, or delete entries (subject to permissions).
• Punch Events: Displays the underlying punch actions (Start, Stop, Break start/stop) for that user. As with the global view, events cannot be edited, only deleted.

Tip

Use the employee’s profile when you want to review or adjust time tracking for a specific person without switching back to the global overview.

Note

Permissions apply in the same way as on the global Time Tracking page. If you don’t have rights to view, edit, or delete entries there, you also won’t have them in the employee’s profile.

Common use cases & tips

• Forgot to clock out: Edit the corresponding entry in the “Time Trackings” tab and set the correct end time.
• Add breaks afterwards: Add breaks to a time tracking by editing the created time tracking.
• Wrong start-/endtime: Correct start/end time directly in the created time tracking.
• Review history: Use the “Punch Events” tab to follow the chronological sequence of your punch actions.
• Clean up: Incorrect punches can be deleted in punch events; then verify the time tracking.

Tip

Review your entries regularly — small corrections right after the shift are easier than later reconstruction.

---

Security & responsibilities

• Time trackings are technically generated from punch events.
• Content accuracy (e.g., correct breaks) is your responsibility or that of your admin who can adjust your time trackings.
• Roles & rights can be managed by your admins in Account Settings → Organization → Roles.

Caution

Since correct punch events are the basis for your time tracking, you should review them regularly and inform your admin in case of errors.

---

FAQ

Why don’t I see the punch clock?
You probably don’t have the “Punch Clock Worker” role. Please have it imported in Account Settings → Organization → Roles and assigned to you in Account Settings → Users.

Why can’t I edit or delete time trackings?
You probably lack the permissions via the “Time Tracking” right or your role is view‑only. Please contact your admins.

Can I record time manually or only live?
Times are created automatically from punch events. In the “Time Trackings” tab you can adjust start/end/breaks afterwards. This way you can correct missed punches.

What happens if I forget to stop a break?
You can adjust the break later in the corresponding time tracking.

Why can’t I edit punch events?
Punch events are immutable to keep history traceable. An admin can delete them if needed; then verify the affected time tracking.

Why can’t I delete or see punch events?
This depends on the “Punch Clock Events” right. If you lack permission to delete/view in this tab, those functions are not available.

Who can edit time trackings?
It depends on your roles/permissions, which are assigned by your admins.