Discover ways to maintain workers clocking out and in on time with sensible reminders, real-world examples, and instruments that do the give you the results you want.
Workers forgetting to clock in or out? It occurs on a regular basis, and it’s costing you greater than you’d assume.
Each missed punch can throw off payroll, mess with compliance, and create pointless stress for you and your workforce.
The excellent news? Just a few sensible, well-timed reminders can repair it.
On this article, you’ll be taught easy, sensible methods to assist your workforce clock out and in on time, with out the chasing or complications.
Why Clocking In and Out Issues (and Why Folks Neglect)
Missed clock-ins would possibly seem to be small slip-ups, however they’ll result in massive issues—assume payroll complications, compliance dangers, and pissed off workers.
Beneath the Truthful Labor Requirements Act (FLSA), employers are required to maintain correct information of hours labored for all non-exempt workers.
That signifies that each missed punch places your enterprise in danger.
We wrote a information on the ins and outs of timekeeping with a free template to create your personal coverage!
Clocking out and in would possibly seem to be a easy step within the workday, however when it’s missed, the affect provides up quick. Inaccurate time information don’t simply mess with payroll, they result in pissed off workers, potential compliance audits, and fewer visibility into hours labored. That makes it more durable to regulate prices, plan schedules, and run your operation easily.
So, why do workers overlook to clock out and in?
When workers overlook to clock in or out, it normally isn’t about laziness, however about friction. One thing of their atmosphere, routine, or workflow is making it too simple to skip, too onerous to recollect, or too inconvenient to do within the second.
Right here’s what may be getting in the best way:
No clear course of: When there’s no set rule, folks overlook.
For those who don’t have a transparent, constant coverage for when and learn how to clock out and in, workers are left guessing. With out construction, it’s simple to overlook, particularly throughout busy shift adjustments when persons are speeding in or heading out.
Disconnected groups miss cues: Subject employees can’t depend on in-person reminders.
Workers who work within the subject or don’t have common entry to electronic mail could miss digital reminders and may’t depend on in-person cues like time clocks or supervisor check-ins.
Begin and finish distractions: Clocking in/out will get misplaced within the shuffle.
Workers may be centered on prepping for duties or on the brink of go away. In these moments, clocking in or out may not be high of thoughts.
No prompts in sight: With out visible or digital cues, it slips their thoughts.
If there’s nothing in your office to immediate workers to clock in or out, like an indication, sound, or fast reminder, it’s simple for them to overlook.
The excellent news? These missed punches are fixable. With the proper reminders—despatched on the proper time—you possibly can construct higher habits and maintain your information correct with out fixed oversight.
The Greatest Occasions to Ship Clock In/Out Reminders
On the subject of clocking out and in, timing is every thing. A reminder solely works when it exhibits up at simply the proper second. Too early or too late, and it’s ineffective. The aim is to catch workers once they’ll truly see it and do one thing about it.
So, when precisely do you have to ship out reminders? For shift-based schedules, attempt:
- Begin of shift: Ship a reminder 5–10 minutes earlier than the scheduled begin time. That manner, you give your workers sufficient time to see it and clock in earlier than beginning work.
- Finish of shift: Set a reminder 5–10 minutes earlier than the top of the shift. Catch workers earlier than they’re centered on packing up or speeding by handoffs.
- Subject jobs: Use location-based triggers to remind somebody to clock in/out once they arrive or go away the job web site.
Use instruments with geofencing to automate location-based reminders—nice for crews on the transfer!
How one can Ship Clock In/Out Reminders
Sending your workers reminders to clock in and clock out doesn’t need to be sophisticated. One of the best kinds of reminders are fast, easy, and match naturally into the workday.
There’s no have to ship lengthy emails that your workforce can’t entry on the job and gained’t learn. Use instruments that your workers already work together with all through the day, equivalent to:
- Cellular app push notifications: These are immediate, onerous to overlook, and nice for groups already utilizing a workforce administration app like Connecteam. Push reminders may be tied to shift instances, job roles, or areas, which makes them additional dependable.
- In-app chat: A fast nudge within the group chat or a direct message can do the trick. This works particularly effectively if you happen to already use chat for scheduling or updates.
- SMS/textual content messages: Texts are good for subject groups or anybody not glued to a central system. Simply be sure you’ve received permission and maintain the messages quick and related.
- In-person signage or digital shows: Posters close to entrances, digital screens in break rooms, or perhaps a sticky be aware close to the time clock can function efficient visible triggers.
- Alarm clock-style telephone notifications: Encourage workers to set a every day alarm or calendar reminder as a private backup. This may be particularly helpful for frontline staff who don’t all the time have web entry.
Pattern Reminder Messages You Can Ship Now
The best reminders are quick, clear, and sound like one thing an actual individual would say. You don’t have to overthink it—simply be sure your workforce is aware of what to do, and when to do it.
Listed below are some pattern reminders you possibly can ship to your workforce proper now (or proper earlier than they should clock in or clock out):
Clock in reminder messages
- Good morning! It’s time to clock in ⏰
- Your shift is about to begin…Time to clock in ⏲️
- Time to get began! Ensure you clock in ⏯️
- Have you ever clocked in but right now?
- Bear in mind: It’s time to clock in 💡
- You’ve received this! Begin your shift by clocking in 😊
- Are you on web site? Time to clock in 📍
- Clock in now earlier than you be a part of the workforce!
- Prepare, get set…Clock in! 🏎️
- Tick…tick…it’s clock in time ⏱️

Clock out reminder messages
- Nice work right now! Clock out earlier than you head out ⏰
- Nearly accomplished? Clock out earlier than you go.
- Please clock out earlier than ending your shift 😊
- Completed for the day? Time to punch out 🥊
- Reminder: Time to clock out❗️
- End robust! Clock out earlier than you allow 💪
- Clock out earlier than you go!
- Earlier than you head residence, clock out 💡
- Don’t overlook to clock out!
- Thanks for a terrific day! Clock out and also you’re good to go 👋

Don’t Neglect the Timesheets
It’s vital to clock out and in, however it solely issues if timesheets are submitted. Lacking or late timesheets can result in payroll delays, sad workers, and pointless back-and-forth. More often than not, workers simply overlook to submit.
Just a few well-timed reminders could make all of the distinction. Strive reminding your workforce two days earlier than the deadline, the morning it’s due, and once more an hour or two earlier than the cutoff. That manner, you retain everybody on observe.
Listed below are a couple of timesheet reminders you possibly can ship to your workforce:
- Heads up! Your timesheet is due by Friday. For those who haven’t submitted but, now’s a very good time.
- Reminder: Test your hours and submit your timesheet by the top of the week 🗓️
- The timesheet deadline is right now! Be sure your timesheet is submitted earlier than the top of
your shift ⏳ - Heads up…Timesheets are due in a single hour. Double verify and hit submit now!
- Be sure your timesheet is in earlier than we wrap up payroll 🔒
The Smarter Approach to Remind Workers
Reminding folks to clock in or out shouldn’t be a full-time job. Automation makes it simple to maintain everybody on observe with out you having to consider it.
With digital time clock software program, like Connecteam, you possibly can arrange reminders that exit routinely. Base reminders on shift instances, job roles, and even location. No additional effort wanted.
You possibly can:
- Ship clock-in/out reminders earlier than shifts begin or finish
- Set reminders for when somebody arrives at or leaves a job web site
- Notify workers who forgot to clock in or out
- Customise reminders by workforce, function, or location
Automated reminders are quick to arrange, run within the background, and allow you to keep away from missed punches and messy timesheets.
The Backside Line

One of the best reminders are those that run themselves. A fast heads-up earlier than a shift or a immediate to clock out retains your workforce on observe and your information correct, with out additional effort or chasing down lacking hours.
With Connecteam’s Time Clock, your workforce all the time is aware of when to clock out and in. Cellular reminders do the give you the results you want, so nothing will get missed and everybody stays on schedule with no need fixed check-ins.