Short answer: track hours automatically, review missing time before the cut-off, apply rates and overtime rules, then run payroll from the approved hours.
1. Track automatically
Use an app that tracks while people work. Manual timesheets filled in on Friday are the biggest source of payroll errors.
2. Set a cut-off
Choose a day each cycle when hours are locked, for example the last working day of the month. Tell everyone the date.
3. Handle missing hours
People forget to start the timer or lose connection. Let them submit a missing-hours request with a short reason, and approve or reject within a day. See missing hours and leave.
4. Apply rates and overtime
Use hourly or salary rates, and decide how overtime and short days are treated. Write the rules down before the first pay run.
5. Run payroll and keep records
Pay from the approved totals and keep the history so you can answer questions months later.
Example
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Tracked hours (month) | 164 h |
| Paid breaks included | Yes |
| Rate | $12 / hour |
| Base pay | $1,968 |
| Approved missing hours | +2 h = $24 |
| Total | $1,992 |
Illustrative numbers only.
TrustHours calculates payroll from tracked hours.
How the rules work