When working remotely from a different time zone, your time tracking records may not match your company’s standard working hours. This article explains how time tracking works across time zones and what both employees and managers should expect.
Important: It is not possible to manage time through different timezones
In Factorial we don’t store the timezone in which the employee perform the clock in/out. We store the employee local time and the server time.
Employee local time: For example, if I clock in at 9am from Madrid, which is +1 regarding the UTC, we just store 9am (without any timezone information).
Server time: Time on the server (which is always at UTC) in which the clock in our out was done. In the previous example, the time on the server was 8am UTC. On the exports and also on the timesheet, we show the shifts with the employee local time but we also show the server time as a reference. This allows companies to see when some actions were done, like editing a shift.
Overview
Factorial’s time tracking system records working hours based on the employee’s local device time zone at the moment of clock-in or clock-out.
This means that if you are working from a different location than your company’s headquarters, your recorded hours will reflect your current local time, not the company’s default time zone.
When and why it should be used
This functionality is especially relevant for:
- Remote employees working from different countries or regions
- Distributed teams operating across multiple time zones
- Managers reviewing time logs for team members in different locations
It ensures accurate tracking of when work is performed, based on the employee’s actual location.
How to use
- Open the Time Tracking feature in Factorial
- Click on Clock in at the start of your workday
- Continue your work as usual
- Click on Clock out when you finish your workday
- Review your time entries in the Time Tracking section
The system will automatically record the time based on your device’s current time zone. No manual adjustment is required.
If the time shown is not your current local time, check your device’s date, time, and time zone settings. Incorrect device settings can affect your time tracking records.
Tips and best practices
- Be aware of time zone differences: If you work remotely, keep in mind how your local time aligns with your company’s working hours
- Communicate with your manager: Clarify expectations regarding schedules and availability
- Use notes if needed: Add comments to your time entries if your working hours may seem unusual
- Align on reporting expectations: Managers and employees should agree on how to interpret time logs across time zones
FAQ
-
Does Factorial convert my working hours to the company’s time zone?
No, time entries are recorded based on the employee’s local time zone and are not automatically converted.
-
Can I change the time zone of my time tracking manually?
No, the system uses your device’s time zone automatically. Manual changes are not supported.
-
How should managers interpret time entries from remote employees?
Managers should consider the employee’s local time zone when reviewing time logs and align expectations accordingly.
-
Will this affect payroll calculations?
No, payroll is based on total worked hours, not the specific time of day those hours were logged.