5 effective timesheet reminders for employees and how to automate them

Whether you're a junior employee, contractor, or manager, it's hard to remember to track your time. Not only does manually recording hours prevent your employees from doing work that really moves the needle, it can also lead to inaccuracies on your timesheet if not done correctly.

By automating your timesheet reminders, you can prevent timesheet errors and free up time for your employees to focus on what really matters to your business. In this article, we'll show you six different methods you can use to let your employees know when it's time to complete their timesheets (without having to send them back-to-back Slack messages).

We'll also explain how Homebase can help you get started with automatic employee time tracking.

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What is a timesheet reminder and why do you need it?

A timesheet reminder prompts individuals to save and submit their time entries on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, ensuring prompt delivery of their timesheet every time. It's more of a nudge than an outright request and helps maintain clean and accurate timesheets over time.

So what's the point of setting up timesheet reminders?

While sending reminders may seem trivial, inaccurate timesheets can create problems for organizations trying to accurately estimate metrics such as average time per project or changes in employee hours month to month.

By setting up timesheet reminders using a tool like Homebase, you can make an accurate assessment of employees' logged hours without having to constantly remind your direct reports of your company's timekeeping policy. business.

5 Effective Timesheet Reminder Methods

No two people enjoy receiving a reminder in the same way. One person may prefer traditional email, others need a quick text, and some people can't prioritize anything unless it's marked on their calendar. Whatever your personal preference, here are some time-saving reminder methods to make sure your employees complete their online timesheets every time.

Clock with timesheet integration

If you and your employees struggle with manually tracking hours, a clock with built-in timesheet integration is the way to go. Not only does this make it easier to reduce time theft and control labor costs, but it also helps you finish each week with automated and accurate timesheets.

Normal email and text reminders are great, however, a clocking app like Homebase ensures that your employees' timesheets are automatically updated every time they clock in and clock out. We'll take a closer look at this solution later.

Emails

Email is the tried and true method of business communication, but does that make it a good option for sending timesheet reminders? Here are the pros and cons of using email as a callback method:

Benefits:

Wide reach: Thanks to the blind carbon copy (Bcc) function, emails can be sent simultaneously to several employees, ensuring that reminders are widely distributed.

Detailed Instructions: Emails allow you to include detailed instructions, such as timesheet submission deadlines, required information, and any specific guidelines.

Documentation: Email threads create a digital trail, allowing employers to refer to previous reminders if needed. This can also be useful if you need proof that reminders have already been sent and received by employees.

The inconvenients:

Ability to monitor: Although email is a great communication tool, you will still have to compete with all the other incoming messages that your employees have to sift through every day. As a result, your reminders may get lost in their inbox if they forget to check their email regularly.

Lack of immediacy: Unless you have a system in place to help your employees prioritize their emails, they won't receive your messages in real time. This back-and-forth nature of emails can lead to...